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: 5, Insightful) by bitstream on Saturday March 12 2016, @09:14AM
They can't be trusted, period. One should make everything hard for Microsoft. Like when people discovered they could crash the MS-Windows reader by adding "begin 644" at the end of their messages.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 12 2016, @02:04PM
So, you're saying it's OK to deploy malware, so long as it's on MS Windows?
MS has been evil and incompetent at creating OSs since before it rebranded a DOS it purchased and screwed the DEVELOPER, DEVELOPER, DEVELOPER out of his fair share in their deal with IBM.
When people ask why I don't help them fix their "windows computers", even though I have the know-how, I always respond: Friends don't let Friends run Microsoft.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 12 2016, @10:10PM
So, you're saying it's OK to deploy malware, so long as it's MS Windows?
FTFY! Especially Windows 10! But if everyone were jumping off a bridge, that still, um, does not make it right, or even a smart thing to do.