Linspire, the company Microsoft sued a few years ago for using the "Lindows" name, has joined Novell/Suse and Xandros in Microsoft's "IP Protection" clause, (according to Microsoft) saving its customers from potential Microsoft patent-infringement lawsuits.
Sources: Mary Joe Foley adds some details about the agreement
As long as Microsoft refuses to show proof for its claim that Linux and open-source software violates 235 of Microsoft’s patents, nobody really believes their statement. On the other hand, the more Linux distro vendors join the "IP Protection" club, the more fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) Microsoft is creating that there really is something going on. Will Red Hat be the next company to seek "IP protection" or is Microsoft trying to align all Linux players against Red Hat ?
Meanwhile, Microsoft recruited Tom Hanrahan, previously director of engineering at the Linux Foundation. He will become director of Linux Interoperability, and will make sure Windows and SuSE Linux work well in virtualization, directory and identity integration (Active Directory and eDirectory), and on systems management. Is this the foreplay to the acquisition of Novell ?
Posted by admin at June 14, 2007 08:35 PM