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From: | amicus_curious |
Subject: | Re: Microsoft going after Linux? |
Date: | Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:28:04 -0500 |
"ray" <ray@zianet.com> wrote in message 70m70cF8opnpU8@mid.individual.net">news:70m70cF8opnpU8@mid.individual.net...
On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:03:27 -0500, Rjack wrote:"Microsoft has filed a suit against TomTom, 'alleging that the in-car navigation company's devices violate eight of its patents — including three that relate to TomTom's implementation of the Linux kernel." http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/02/25/232212 Sincerely, Rjack :)MS has three patents relating to implementation of the Linux kernel? Rather odd.
They weren't obtained for Linux, I would think. Rather Linux implemented something that had been patented as an enhancement to DOS for Windows95. No one checks these things and consequently big companies cross license each other to cut down on the litigation or threats. It is expensive to apply for patents and little companies don't do so much of it, so they are caught up short and have to license those things that they, probably inadvertently, infringe on. Tom-Tom is in that kind of fix. Linux is just caught in a cross-fire or collateral damage.
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