11.26.07
Quick Mention: Linus Torvalds “Really Don’t Know” About the Legal Issues
A month ago we argued that what makes Linus Torvalds such an excellent programmer is the fact that he does not get distracted by ‘politics’ and gossip. He finally appears to admit that he does not get involved with the legal issues and he also acknowledge the fact that a lot of money is being used against his work (the Linux kernel). From this new interview (via DisinformationWeek:
InformationWeek: Do you think there is any way Microsoft, patent holders, or lawyers can take direct aim at the kernel development process and impede it?
Torvalds: I really don’t know. I don’t think they can impede the technology, and I really don’t think there is anything real behind that whole intellectual property FUD machine. But nearly infinite amounts of money certainly goes a long way.
I’m again the wrong person to ask. I work on the technology, and I make sure we do that as well as we can (which does include the ways we do it, including things like doing all the copyright certification we do), but I think that when it comes to these issues, you’re really talking about marketing and FUD, not so much anything I’m able to really answer.
For reference, relevant past items are appended.
Torvalds on the Novell/Microsoft deal:
- Why Linus Should Denounce the Novell Deal as Well
- New Linus Torvalds Interview Covers the Novell Issue, Again
- Linus Torvalds Has No “Hugely Strong Opinion” on Cross-licensing Deals (Updated)
- Linus Torvalds Finally Comments on the Novell/Microsoft Deal
- Quoteworthy: the Linus Torvalds Interpretation of Cross-licensing Deals
Torvalds on Microsoft’s patent threats:
- Linus Torvalds Escapes the Novell Question, Dismisses Microsoft’s “FUD”
- Linus Torvalds: Microsoft Can’t Compete on Technical Merit, Muddies the Waters Instead
Torvalds on the GPL(v3):
- Is the Linux Kernel Approaching Acceptance of GPLv3?
- Even GPLv3 Skeptics Have Begun to Realise It Has Value and Appreciate Its Effect
- Google Likes GPLv3, Microsoft Hates GPLv3, Eben Moglen Interview on GPLv3
- GPLv3 Resolves the Apache Compatibility Peril, Gets Alan Cox’s Approval
- Interviews: Linus Torvalds About GPLv2, Ron Hovsepian on the Deal
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.
_e_e_t_ said,
November 26, 2007 at 4:37 am
It is astounding that an interview with Linux in which he says 1) he really doesn’t know and that 2) he doesn’t think patents will have any influence on the spread of Linux gets fabricated into another FUD-article by you.
This is so typical of your FUD-machine: 1) take small pieces from things you find on the internet, 2) quote them out of context, 3) attach massive amounts of backlinks to your _own_ articles, 4) claim the out-of-context-quotes would somehow prove all you’ve written previously.
You are a one-man-FUD-machine, Roy, and I would be very careful now - you’ve already managed to catch the attention of GNOME board director beating the proverbial living daylights out of your so-called ‘journalism’. Continue like that and you’ll have Linus himself to give you a good whacking, soon
Note: comment has been flagged for arriving from a known, pseudonymous, nymshifting, abusive Internet troll
_e_e_t_ said,
November 26, 2007 at 4:44 am
replace ‘Linux’ with ‘Linus’ where applicable…
Note: comment has been flagged for arriving from a known, pseudonymous, nymshifting, abusive Internet troll
lalala said,
November 26, 2007 at 7:12 am
So, when others comment here and don’t agree with you, they’re automatically abusive internet trolls? Shame on you.
Roy Schestowitz said,
November 26, 2007 at 7:25 am
Follow the link and find of what type of person we’re talking about here: http://boycottnovell.com/2007/11/22/eet-strommael-gmx-net/
lalala said,
November 26, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I liked the part “What kind of vandal is this guy?” because some of it applies to you.
You want people to think like you think.
You want people to think SUSE is bad, and so is Novell.
You refuse to accept that your comments on Digg and other sites are not welcome.
You keep posting and posting again the same comments like a broken machine.
Roy Schestowitz said,
November 26, 2007 at 2:54 pm
No, that’s what people say when they naively argue that I use a multiple identities, such as CyberPhoenix, which is a complete and utter lie. In general, there’s a group in Digg that systematically mods down all my comments and uses tools lke Digg Stalker to track my comments and then attach slander to some of them.