02.27.08
Quick Mention: Novell+Mono Discussion
In response to this recent post, there have been quite a few others and there is a long discussion about it in OS News, as well as other places. Among the comments:
Novell has received those license from microsoft so novell has nothing to fear but other vendors who didnt sign up with the microsoft threats are vunerable.
Novell is pushing mono technology in gnome - since it has the cross-patent license from microsoft.
[…]
On November 2, 2006, Microsoft and Novell announced a joint agreement whereby Microsoft agreed to not sue Novell�€�s customers for patent infringement.[9] According to Mono project leader Miguel de Icaza,[10] this agreement extends to Mono but only for Novell developers and customers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_(software)#Mono_and_Microsoft.E2.80.99s_patentsThat last part implies that Microsoft COULD possibly sue people or organizations that use Mono.
So… given the relationship between Microsoft and Novell, and how Novell is the big organization pushing Mono, maybe there IS something to be concerned about. This situation does look suspiciously like Microsoft worming its way into having power in the FOSS world.
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.
CoolGuy said,
February 27, 2008 at 5:22 am
Novell has lost their credibility in FOSS after they signed the death - pact with M$