Hints That Microsoft May Use IP Against Linux 268 plus 10

Rob Hughes on Sunday 26 March 2006 16:10

many such patents, which Microsoft have been accumulating are ludicrous.

,---- Quote The FAT file system, a common means of storing files, was originally developed for Windows but is also employed on removable flash memory `----

And along that tune:

,---- Quote The European Commission has threatened to fine Microsoft up to 2m euros (£1.36m; $2.4m) a day until it gives rivals more access to its systems. `----

Needless to mention, the FAT file system is an adaptation of something that existed beforehand. I couldn't find a key article which said that Microsoft now file almost 10 times as many patents as many before, relying on them as a weapon for future and lining applications up like cannonballs.

When-if Microsoft take others to court (rather than be pulled into it), expect many companies (HP and IBM are indeed good examples) to turn their backs on Microsoft. So far, Microsoft has done that only using a puppet, which we all know as SCO.

Sorry to squeeze in a personal, but I happened to write this only yesterday.

The Xeron-Palm case shows the detrimental effect of software patents. Everyone suffers because some fsckwit invented typography.