A new Web site, moreinterop.com, has just made an appearance. It presents a letter signed by Steve Ballmer and Ron Hovsepian. Therein, Novell acknowledges that the deal is also concerned with patents---something that they previously try to deny (or flip-flopped on). From the letter:

Also, we have agreed to provide each other's customers with patent coverage for our leading products. This patent protection lets us offer our customers the highest levels of interoperability, with assurance that both companies stand behind their solutions. On a foundation of respect for software patents and other intellectual property, we have built a bridge for customers between the two worlds of open-source and proprietary software.

In other news, a couple of neighbouring billboards are joined to demonstare the invalidity of this recent deal.

Last month we couldn't help but note (because I drive by it every day) a billboard extolling the virtues of the recent Microsoft/Novell "Bipartisan Computing" partnership. (Paid for by the newly minted couple, naturally.)

Seems I'm not the only one to take such note. Driving to work today I see this message plastered on the billboard directly opposite and across the highway from the first one:

[Photo here]

Take that Gates ... and, you too, Hovsepian, I think. (Translating Shakespeare has never been a strong suit.)