Microsoft May Indemnify Some Red Hat Linux Users

[Andy Green]

Guy Fraser wrote:

Hi Guy -

>>From what I have read the items involved are : 
> Samba		= Windows File Sharing
> Mono		= Programming Language compatible with .NET
> OpenOffice	= MS Office compatible productivity suite
> .NET		= Cruft {OOPS whas that my outside voice}
> Windows Server	= No Idea.

Yes but what bits of these projects?  Microsoft can't stand up with a 
patent about filesharing as a whole, when it was done many years before 
they "had the idea".  Nor can the idea of "wordprocessing" be patented 
by them.  Only specific chunks of specific projects are under any kind 
of (unspoken) threat.  So it's good to keep that in mind when reading 
the FUD about "Linux" as a whole being under any kind of threat.

If MSFT are serious they will have to list where the problems are, then 
action can be taken or at worst some specific functionality in a handful 
of apps will be lost.  Presumably they can't claim that RHAT were 
appraised of any violation if they can't specify which patents and what 
software because they are doing a SCO.

> As well virtualization allowing MS and Linux to run at the same time on
> the same hardware is part of the agreement. As far as I can tell this
> just has to do with allowing limited contravention of the MS EULA and 
> nothing to do with Linux at all.
> 
> Microsoft has more to gain, by playing nice now, than going around
> poking customers with sticks, and loosing them completely to Linux
> solutions. All it takes to go from 60% to nothing is attacking your
> customers. If customers are threatened they may very well move to
> solutions that are devoid of any MS patents, and there are such
> solutions for every item in the agreement. In many cases there are
> much better products than what MS offers, and in cases where there is
> not, if there is a demand, I am certain something can be created.

Yes, move away from MSFT influence because the natural question is: 
"what the hell next!?!" from Microsoft.  This kind of "there is no 
option!  You owe me!  Do what I say or you will be punished!" behaviour 
is like some brute abusing his wife.

> Americans

Hopefully none of the software patent stuff will stand up in .eu?  That 
would be something.

-Andy