On Thursday 17 May 2007, James D. Parra wrote:
This is a good article;
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/12212/53/
"Even if hypothetically there are patent infringements in the Linux kernel, then the open source community would do the right thing and remove the offending code and, because open source development moves so rapidly, that means Linux would no longer be infringing before it even got to court. So even if Microsoft did have a case, by the time it got to court the case would be gone and whatever damages that they were able to ask for would be very minimal."
The main point is that Linux kernel is a free software. Nobody sells kernel directly. Linux distributors are earning money by packaging and providing service/support. So if nobody ever sold kernel to anybody the amount owing to Microsoft in royalties is ZERO. If there is any code resembling Microsoft coding I doubt it can ever be used in court. Show me anyone going through billions lines of code since 20 years ago. Besides Linux is based on UNIX and UNIX was here before Microsoft so if there is any resemblance who is copying who? -- Regards, George Osvald OK Studio ® http://www.okstudio.com.au Email: mail@okstudio.com.au -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org