Microsoft Claims Linux Infringes Hundreds Of Patents |
|
|
|
|
Monday, 14 May 2007 |
Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith won't cite specific Microsoft patents, but maintains that open-source software violates a total of 235 of the company's patents. In a revelation certain to incite legal worries among the thousands of businesses that use open-source software, Microsoft has for the first time stated the quantity of its patents it believes Linux and other free software programs violate. Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said the Linux kernel itself violates 42 of the company's patents; Linux graphical user interfaces infringe 65; Open Office programs violate 45; various open source e-mail applications step on 15; while a number of other free or open-source software programs violate an additional 68 patents held by Microsoft. The claims are made in a Fortune magazine article published Sunday. In the article, the Microsoft executive declined to say which specific Microsoft patents he believes are being violated, but maintains the total is 235....more  (0) Comments
|
