One thing we must remember. The longer this goes on for, the weaker the FUD shall become. After many reactions that were accompanied by shock, calm observations are being made. Can Microsoft sue its own customers?

The history at IBM is one reason why I am encouraged about Sun, encouraged about Linux, and predict nothing but trouble for Microsoft.

Will the idea of forcing companies to enter alliances actually work? Or will it just lead to inheriting the RIAA's negative and repellent image?

Forced Alliances

Microsoft's decision to call out open source on patent violations is not about stifling innovation or slowing the adoption of Linux or open-source software in general, according to Brad Shimmin, a principal analyst at Current Analysis. For Microsoft, he said, this is about deriving long-term revenue from a burgeoning market in which it cannot play.

"What Microsoft intends here is for these vendors to enter into patent-licensing deals just as Novell did last year, thereby avoiding potentially costly litigation -- either directly from Microsoft or indirectly with Microsoft taking aim at their customers, a la the Recording Industry Association of America," Shimmin argued.

Here is Robert X. Cringely's take.

It's the age-old formula: First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they threaten to have a colony of attorneys descend upon you from a great height. The Open Source Movement has truly arrived.

Finally, here are a couple of cartoons:

• from labsji.wordpress.com



• from userfriendly.org