11.23.07
Amazon Likes Linux and FLOSS, But Also Loves Patent Abuse, Apparently
Just because everyone does it, should you?
What is Amazon trying to do to its public image? Despite awareness of the harsh criticism, it’s pressing on with its clicks and presses.
Amazon Sneaks One-Click Past the Patent System
By changing the word ‘a’ to ‘the’ and adding the phrase ‘purchasable through a shopping cart model,’ lawyers for Amazon.com have apparently managed to reinstate two of CEO Jeff Bezos’ 1-Click Patent claims that were rejected a month earlier.
If you ever needed an illustration of the sad state of the US patent system, this one is a classic. Recent developments include:
Amazon does not need to go down this road of patent system abuse. Its relationship with Free software and Linux is (arguably) healthy, so why ruin it? Only days ago it unveiled a Linux-based gadget, which was sold out within hours. The nastiness of DRM aside, this shows that Amazon is no foe to Linux. Other examples of Amazon using and/or relying on Free software (from recent months alone):
- Red Hat, Amazon deliver Linux on demand
- Amazon’s Open Source Strategy
- Open Source Communications and SIP Come to Amazon.com
- rPath Provides On-Ramp to Amazon Grid Services
- ElasticDrive Beta 0.1.6 - Amazon S3 FileSystem
Amazon could do better than this by withdrawing this patent. It could at least make a pledge. IBM did both things in recent months. █
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.