Torvalds plays pro bono lawyer to Linux community
Linux superstar Linus Torvalds generously gives free legal advice to ward off threats coming from Microsoft on patent infringement. He finds it ironic that a monopolist like Microsoft would run after smaller players over patents.
I think Microsoft really sees patents as a marketing thing and I think that for two reasons: … I don’t think Microsoft has ever sued anybody over patents. They have been sued by other people, but I don’t think they’ve … generally used patents as a weapon. But they’re perfectly happy to use anything at all as fear, uncertainty, and doubt in the marketplace. Patents are just one thing where they say, ‘Hey, isn’t this convenient? We can use this as a PR force.”
Well, the man has a point but his lack of legal expertise will not help in this situation. The rift between Microsoft and Linux started when both parties partnered to distribute Novell SUSE Linux and exchange know-how to promote interoperability. Unfortunately, the ambitious project led to patent disputes
Via InformationWeek
Related posts:
- Torvalds likens Linux development to a social network
- Linux Foundation unveils new Linux.com
- Google brings Desktop to Linux users
- The Patents That Killed the VoIP Star
- Lawyer sues lawyer search engine Avvo
Do you like this article? Submit it to Blogosphere News!
I’m pretty sure the advice he’ll be handing out will be more of a technical nature, to assist with legal defense.
Example: Company A gets letter from companies S, C, and O stating that the free software they own violates several patents. No patents are specified, and no proof is ever presented. Linus might be able to answer some questions about whether the complaints might possibly hold any water.
By Raskolnikov on August 8, 2008 5:32 pm