Microsoft and Novell Announce Broad Collaboration on Windows and Linux Interoperability and Support

Ben Scott dragonhawk at gmail.com
Fri Nov 3 10:33:33 EST 2006


On 11/3/06, jimmy Pierre <jimmypierre.rouen.france at gmail.com> wrote:
> http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/nov06/11-02MSNovellPR.mspx

"As part of this agreement, Microsoft will provide a covenant not to
assert its patent rights against customers who have purchased SUSE
Linux Enterprise Server or other covered products from Novell ..."

#ifdef PARANOID

  It appears Microsoft has found a way to charge for Linux licenses.

  Here's the plan.  Partner with Novell for SuSE.  Patent some stuff
Linux does.  (Doesn't matter if it's legit, Microsoft has more money
and better lawyers.)    Declare to the world that anyone running Linux
not running SuSE Linux will get sued into oblivion.  Sue Red Hat into
oblivion.  Sue SPI into oblivion.  Sue SCO... nah, just pay SCO to
drop their Linux products.  Obtain injunctions on anyone distributing
copies of Debian or Ubuntu or whatever inside the US.

  Now there is only one "Linux company" left, Novell.

  Microsoft cancels all agreements with Novell.  (Cue "Star Wars: The
Empire Strikes Back" sound clip, Darth Vadar: "I am altering the deal.
 Pray I do not alter it any further.")

  Sue Novell into oblivion.  Now there are no "Linux companies" left.
Commercial markets flee in terror back to 'doze.  Microsoft cranks up
their license fee extortion even further.

  (Alternatively, Microsoft can just keep asking Novell for more and
more money for their patent cooperation, thus turning SuSE Linux
license fees into a revenue stream.  But I think they prefer the
direct approach.)

#endif

  Ha ha.  Only serious.

-- Ben "I wish I was kidding" Scott


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