This is bad. It turns out that Samsung caved in to pressure and signed a cross-licensing deal with Microsoft, simply because it uses Linux.

As with Microsoft's recent deal with Fuji Xerox, the software maker specifically notes that the deal will allow Samsung to offer products using Linux without concern that Microsoft will sue it or its customers.

As usual, there's no mentioning of which patents are involved. At times like this we must realise what Novell has opened a door to.

Update: According to the press release, "Samsung and its distributors and customers may utilize Microsoft's patents in Samsung's products with proprietary software, and Samsung will also obtain coverage from Microsoft for its customers' use of certain Linux-based products". Linux-based products are not Linux itself. Begin to wonder about technologies like Mono.

Update #2: According to the Microsoft blog, Fuji-Xerox made a similar Linux commitment with Microsoft.