Dear Mr. Ballmer

Shane Coyle

2006-11-17 18:32:30 UTC
Modified: 2006-12-10 06:42:41 UTC

Dear Mr Ballmer,

As I am sure you are aware, much has been made of the recent Microsoft - Novell agreement, including numerous public statements by you in which you claim that "Linux is violating your patented intellectual property". I am the leader of a Free Software Project that produces and sells a Live CD Environment based on Slax GNU/Linux, and am concerned regarding these statements you have made and their impact on my ability to conduct business.

I am requesting that you state, with specificity, the patent numbers, which countries are they valid in, and when do they expire? I would like to review my options, including whether the patents you claim are indeed valid and apropos. Also, what are the license terms that Microsoft is requesting for usage of these patented innovations for an end user? How much for a distributor?

Regards,

Shane Coyle Founder, EDU-Nix.org

Comments

Meo

2006-11-18 13:24:22

A Boycott Novell site is very nice. But all the google ads showing Suse Linux ads don't really make sense to me.....
simon

2006-11-18 21:30:08

Click on the Suse ads. It wastes Novell's money!
Roy Schestowitz

2006-11-18 22:07:45

@Simon: better yet, run wget in a loop on that link. J/K.
shane

2006-11-18 22:36:38

Well that would only be true if it were a Novell ad, most ads are small companies that distribute and/or support Linux, including SuSE and SLED. DO NOT just click ads to waste advertiser's money, it is unethical and will not bring about the desired effect since I doubt Novell advertises here.

Boycott Novell, tell someone you know to Boycott Novell, but don't commit click fraud.

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Dear Mr. Ballmer

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