06.08.07
Xandros Changed Its Mind, No Longer Thinks Linux Violates Microsoft Patents
The following report from ‘Microsoft’s press’ contains a very interesting nugget of information. Have a look:
When asked directly during the interview Monday whether Typaldos [of Xandros] believes that Linux has violated 235 Microsoft patents, he said, “I’m not going to say; I don’t know the patents Microsoft is talking about…I don’t know the specifics” of the alleged violations. At the time of the interview, David Kaefer, Microsoft’s general manager for IP and licensing, was part of the call.
Within a half-hour of the end of the interview, Typaldos left a voice message for this reporter in which he said, “I wanted to make it very clear that your question about ‘Do I think that Linux is infringing on Microsoft patents’? The answer is a categorical no. The answer is no.”
Recall the cycle of regret and the set of interviews and Q&As from Novell. Here’s one among many ‘clarifications’ (peacemaking attempts) which we saw at the time. The reaction from Xandros is just like Novell’s. The company has realised that the wrath of the GPL (let alone some of its existing clients) will hit them really hard. Their fear and lust are set aside. They face reality after a poor (and irreversible) decision was made.
Shane Coyle said,
June 8, 2007 at 1:20 am
So, the CEO of the company is saying that they have signed up to pay MS royalties for a right-to-use license for "I don’t know the patents Microsoft is talking about…I don’t know the specifics"
Does anyone at Xandros know what they licensed? I bet they know what they are paying.
Darth Chaos said,
June 8, 2007 at 2:53 pm
It’s too late for Xandros. They signed the deal, which was basically a legally-binding contract. They can’t back out now without paying a HUGE penalty. Either way, Xandros will be going out of business within 2 years. I used to use Xandros, but for the past year I’ve been using Ubuntu. I just pray that Ubuntu never sells out…THAT would be a HUGE death knell for Linux.
Roy Schestowitz said,
June 8, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Ubuntu’s founder has already expressed strong feelings against Microsoft’s plan, so it’s unlikely.