05.24.07
Microsoft: No Patent Specifics, Because of Paper
Microsoft’s lies never cease to amaze. The company now blames paperwork for its reluctance to let the dogs out.
First you get everyone riled claiming open source and Linux infringe on your patents, then you won’t detail those patents. Why? The paperwork.
Yes, Microsoft cited administrative overhead for not detailing the 235 Microsoft patents its chief legal counsel recently told Forbes exist in Linux and open source.
Hasn’t the company produced over 6,000 pages of nasty technical documentation quite recently? Even SCO was able to file some legal documents over the years. It’s yet another excuse because FUD is more rewarding than a legal failure.
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.
Shane Coyle said,
May 24, 2007 at 10:35 am
This is similar to what they were saying around when the Novell deal was announced.
I have argued that this absurd industry methodology is leading to the cartelization of the software industry, in which a substantial portfolio of legally spurious patents is the membership requirement.
Novell, as a cartel member, has just as much to gain by locking out small competitors as Microsoft.