Mailinglist Archive: opensuse (4498 mails)

[Mark Hounschell <dmarkh@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Anders Johansson wrote:
> On Sunday 19 November 2006 11:28, Mark Hounschell wrote:
>> The _end_ would be sure and swift. There would be no trail. It would be
>> dismissed as frivolous.
> 
> The SCO trial is still running, and no one outside that company believes they 
> are right. Microsoft has people like Groklaw's PJ on their side in claiming 
> they have patented ideas in linux (see the claims of OSRM, which when they 
> started included Pamela Jones)
> 

Again I say that if MS were to sue _ME_ for using linux today the end would be
sure and swift. I would not need money.

> Justice may get there in the end, but anyone who thinks it's swift has not 
> been watching the news the past few decades
> 
>> I said nothing about end users anyway. MS wouldn't 
>> dare sue me or you for using OS linux.
> 
> I believe people said the same about the RIAA and end users downloading mp3s
> 

I'm not up really knowledgeable on what happened there. Did any end home user
actually get sued and have to pay restitution for downloading mp3s?

>> Again though, Novell is a (the only) linux distributor now in bed with MS.
> 
> There is no "bed" here. microsoft is turning on the spin machine. This needs 
> to be stopped asap. Novell does not accept the claim that the payments are 
> patent royalties.
> 

I hope that is true. But... I personally don't believe it.

>> You know all the diseases MS carries. What would happen if MS were able to
>> coerce Novell into actually sneaking some of its IP into linux
>> (glibc/kernel etc) only to be 'discovered' at some time convenient to MS?
> 
> Silly. Given that Novell has bet the house on linux, what would the gain be? 
> This is still a billion dollar company, remember. Not something teetering on 
> the brink of bankrupcy. With 4000+ employees, you don't do suicide pacts like 
> that
>

I now even wonder if MS was somehow involved in the purchase of SuSE by Novell.
The conspiracy thickens...

> Besides, Novell doesn't maintain either the kernel or glibc. The kernel is 
> with the OSDL, and glibc is maintained by red hat.
> 

No, but they contribute a lot to both. They are in the proper position.

>
> If microsoft has plans like that, it would be far simpler to put out some 
> "undercover" developers, submitting patches from home

Thats probably true. Unless they wanted to insure it was done right??
And sometimes it's easier to buy company then it is to buy a person.

Mark

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