Microsoft promises to defend—not attack—Linux with its 60,000 patents

quietright · 11-10-2018, 02:11 PM

I was happy when heart this at first time.

greencedar · 12-30-2018, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fido_dogstoyevsky

"Promises" aren't enough - when they've established a pattern of consistently trustwothy behaviour over time I'll think about considering trusting them.

But even if, I wouldn't go back to proprietary software.

I agree.

greencedar

trevoratxtal · 12-31-2018, 12:44 AM

Nothing changes!
Trust them! NO CHANCE
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes" is a Latin phrase from Aeneid (II, 49), written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC. It has been paraphrased in English as the proverb "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts". Its literal meaning is "I fear the Danaans [Greeks], even those bearing gifts" or "even when they bear gifts". Most printed versions of the text have the variant ferentis instead of ferentes.[1]

As related in the Aeneid, after a nine-year war on the beaches of Troy between the Danaans (Greeks from the mainland) and the Trojans, the Greek seer Calchas induces the leaders of the Greek army to win the war by means of subterfuge: build a huge wooden horse and sail away from Troy as if in defeat—leaving the horse behind as a votive offering for a safe journey home. The Trojan Horse actually contains a hand-picked team of crack Greek warriors hidden in its wooden belly. The Trojan priest Laocoön suspects that some menace is hidden in the horse, and he warns the Trojans not to accept the gift, crying, Equō nē crēdite, Teucrī! Quidquid id est, timeō Danaōs et dōna ferentīs. ("Do not trust the horse, Trojans! Whatever it is, I fear the Danaans, even when bringing gifts.") Immediately after Laocoön proclaims his warning, he throws a spear at the horse, which pierces its side; Virgil writes that the groan from the Greek warriors hidden within would surely have alerted the Trojans to the trick if the gods had not already ordained Troy's destruction.

My thanks to the excellent organ Wikipedia

jmccue · 01-12-2019, 10:47 AM

Well I can believe Microsoft now, but the issue is not with Microsoft or any other commercial enterprise, but with the patents themselves.

I can say "I will never ever rob a bank", but should I become homeless, a time may come where robbing a bank looks good.

The same is with patents, over and over again we have seen when a company resources (stocks, revenue, profits...) start to tank, they start using their patents as a means to survive. So should MS hit hard times I am sure they will turn to the courts.

Also, just thought of this, does that statement really mean "As long as we get royalties, we will defend Linux". What about android, are they still paying MS for the use of FAT32 ? Last I heard MS is still getting $ for that patent.

rokytnji · 01-12-2019, 03:37 PM

Finally. A Mars Attacks thread.

ack ack. ack ack ack.

Google Translator does not have a app for that. But. Seems like a being a sociopath when it comes to making money does not matter in this case. Conscious not needed.

Quote:

The Open Invention Network is a group of about 2,400 companies around the world that have agreed to cross-license their patents on a royalty-free basis for use by the "Linux System," a collection of projects including the Linux kernel, many tools and utilities built on top of Linux, and large parts of Android. Member companies also promise not to assert their patents against the Linux Community.

This move should put an end to the lingering threat of patent lawsuits from Microsoft that many Linux and Android companies have faced. With that threat gone, it should also put an end to the royalties that the company was collecting from Android vendors.

Edit: ignoring the shoulda coulda words of course.