Microsoft Wants Royalties From Linux and Open-Source

GeoTrail · Post by **GeoTrail** » Mon May 14, 2007 8:54 pm

Anyone read this?
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=7269

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:30 pm

Unbelievable, Microsoft gets paid royalties and then pays it back plus some. What is the software world coming to.

milan1612 · Post by **milan1612** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:30 pm

The end of Opensource? NEVER!

Nik · Post by **Nik** » Mon May 14, 2007 10:01 pm

Yeah this topic is like an Internet tsunami at the Moment, there is a nice quote from Mahadma Ghandhi that ddescibes the situation very well.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you and then you win" I think Linux and with it the whole OpenSource World has now definitely reached phase 3 which is probably a good thing.

Heathen · Post by **Heathen** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:44 pm

Damn vultures

ricardo · Post by **ricardo** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:52 pm

Open Source is not as 'romantic' concept as must people thinks, in fact its just another business model and they will make some agreement and continue making business.

Dare · Post by **Dare** » Tue May 15, 2007 12:16 am

ricardo wrote:Open Source is not as 'romantic' concept as must people thinks, in fact its just another business model and they will make some agreement and continue making business.

True.

The only really good "licence" is "Public Domain" .

Nontheless, we don't want Microsoft to own everything. Who else thinks the patents idea has now gone mad and is being abused beyond belief.

Perhaps we should patent patents!

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Tue May 15, 2007 12:22 am

Dare wrote:Who else thinks the patents idea has now gone mad and is being abused beyond belief.

Perhaps we should patent patents!

I'm going to patent the letter 'E'. Should bring me in a few pounds. Anyone caught using the letter 'E' in their messages will have to pay me!!

Dare · Post by **Dare** » Tue May 15, 2007 12:25 am

* leaps in and patents "e" - which is conceptually different enough, methinks *

* leaves "e" with oumlauts and other decorations for others - is not greedy *

eDIT: Notice the careful avoidance of any uppercase use of the fifth letter of the alphabet. Saves a few quid.

ricardo · Post by **ricardo** » Tue May 15, 2007 12:26 am

Dare wrote:
ricardo wrote:Open Source is not as 'romantic' concept as must people thinks, in fact its just another business model and they will make some agreement and continue making business.
True.

The only really good "licence" is "Public Domain" .

Agree.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:05 am

Dare wrote:

* leaps in and patents "e" - which is conceptually different enough, methinks *

* leaves "e" with oumlauts and other decorations for others - is not greedy *

eDIT: Notice the careful avoidance of any uppercase use of the fifth letter of the alphabet. Saves a few quid.

Damn, a loophole. Should of seen that one coming.

Dare · Post by **Dare** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:28 am

* Releases "e" into the public domain *

GedB · Post by **GedB** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:50 am

The thing that gets me is that Europe has no Patents, so none of this should apply to us.

What I reckon they should do is declare that no Open Source software can be used within in country that has Software Patents.

The big names should make it part of the contract. If your country has software patents, you cannot use this software.

Then, for example, American companies will be unable to install Apache web server. They will have to either switch to IIS or move all of their servers overseas.

This would force the US to reconsider their ridiculous software patents.

Dare · Post by **Dare** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:55 am

Hi GedB

Fighting fire with fire, though. That just makes the OpenSource licences even more restrictive than most already are.

- Also the marines would probably arrive to enforce Liberty, Equality and the right to Patent.

Rook Zimbabwe · Post by **Rook Zimbabwe** » Wed May 16, 2007 3:25 am

I am sorry to inform you that I have patented the entire concept of using vowels and capital letters. in any context. You will all be hearing from my california tree hugger lawyer shortly. I want 1$ US for every thing you own that has letters in it.

I am also patenting the idea of making patents so people will have to PAY me for stealing a brilliant idea.

- good one DARE!!!