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Simon Phipps comments on Microsoft's latest antics in regards to open source. Specifically, while the public is distracted by show, Microsoft is shaking down the Android/Linux and GNU/Linux communities for patent licenses.
Phipps asserts that it's time for them to put up or shut up by either joining the OIN or admitting that they can't be trusted in the open source community they now claim to love.
Roy Schestowitz has some harsher words on the same topic, noting that the media is ignoring malicious actions in favor of paying attention to the public relations campaign.
While the OIN cannot protect against NPE's aka patent trolls, it is created for just this kind of situation and choosing to join -- or not -- sends a very clear message about their intentions towards the community.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by canopic jug on Saturday March 12 2016, @09:11AM
OIN helps in this particular case since M$ is an established software patent abuser, but ...
As mentioned, OIN does not and cannot do anything to fight patent trolls. In general, it simply perpetuates the problem of software patents and because it mostly generates some empty feel-good actions lessens the efforts at the root of the problem which is the software patents themselves. However, in a few unusual, specific cases it can help. This case is one of those. Companies that have lots of products usually end up cross-licensing patents with competitors to avoid large and unnecessary expenditures through lawsuits. What joining the OIN does is give most of the same benefits of protection that cross-licensing would give but to the whole FOSS community. It would show that M$ is in seriously and not just biding its time for an opportunity to stab the community.
At the end of the day, OIN does nothing to address the problem of software patents themselves. Even though in this specific case it would help, probably very much, I see OIN as trying to follow the wrong strategy overall.
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
(Score: 2) by bitstream on Saturday March 12 2016, @12:36PM
Stab Microsoft right away? attack is the best defense..
Any suggestions on how to make their existence hard?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 12 2016, @03:27PM
RICO
(Score: 2) by bitstream on Saturday March 12 2016, @03:40PM
Interesting!
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Saturday March 12 2016, @07:24PM
It would show that M$ is in seriously and not just biding its time for an opportunity to stab the community.
Is it legally binding, and non-revokable?
Because if its not, it sounds like a device to get more patented code into linux, leaving the door open for another SCO style patent attack many years later.
As long as there are ways that these companies can enter some software patents in the OIN pool and hold others out, It seems sort of risky. Quietly slip a reserved patent into your implementation of a shared software, then lower the boom 4 years later.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.