Beginning with TomTom Microsoft has been using the size of their bankroll to intimidate small firms on the margins of Linux to pay Microsoft a ROYALTY for the privilege of using Linux. Royalty payments are only made by users of a technology to the inventors of the technology who hold patents on that technology. By extorting these companies that are working on the fringes of Linux Microsoft is building up a dossier of "examples" of corporations paying license fees for using "its" technology. Of course, also included in the extortion is the NDA, which prevents the victim from disclosing which parts of Linux Microsoft is claiming violates their IP. Microsoft's patent count recently rose above the 10,000 mark, and includes such stunningly difficult and technically brilliant patents like those on the "Page Up" & "Page Down" keys on your keyboard.
I just read an article at GrokLaw about SCOsource licensing. SCO's licensing attack appears to be identical to the one Microsoft is now using. A very interesting read.
I just read an article at GrokLaw about SCOsource licensing. SCO's licensing attack appears to be identical to the one Microsoft is now using. A very interesting read.