Novell Collects Software Patents While Apple Attacks Linux with Patents
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz
- 2009-01-23 12:49:05 UTC
- Modified: 2009-01-23 12:49:05 UTC
2 companies wrongly perceived as friends of FOSS
Novell's
quest for software patents continues. That's just
how Novell markets itself. It uses software patents as a distinguisher/differentiator, which leads to
resentment in the Free software community. Here is
Novell's latest addition:
Method and apparatus for maintaining peripheral device support information , patent No. 7,480,745, invented by Bart Dahneke, of Provo; Ted Wayne Tronson, of Provo; Michael John Cowley, of Provo; and Victor Hugo Parra, of Lindon; assigned to Novell Inc., of Provo.
Novell is not the only company that's strongly (and wrongly) credited for contributions to Free software despite its obvious attacks on the spirit and foundations of Free software. There is also Apple, which is hostile towards GNU/Linux [
1,
2].
If Apple and Novell share a common pain at the moment, it is that both companies are currently
under fire from this one patent troll.
Apple among PC makers sued over OS permissions tech
The latest suit arrives on the heels of a complaint lodged earlier this month by IPAT and GITH that made similar accusations against a group of software makers regarding the same patents. Named in that suit were Microsoft, Symantec, F-Secure, Novell, AVG Technologies and PC Tools.
But is Apple just using patents defensively? Not by a long shot. To make matters worse, Apple claims the inventions of others.
Speaking of Apple, which is among those sued in the above case, it appears to be
threatening to sue Linux-based products.
Apple Hints at Legal Action Against Palm
Remember when Steve Jobs launched the iPhone, and held it up in the air, proudly proclaiming "Boy, have we patented it", followed by a massive applause of the adoring audience? It may seem like this wasn't just an empty claim, either. During the earnings conference call yesterday, the company hinted at possible legal action against Palm were the Pre to infringe on iPhone patents.
How charming. First Apple exploits Free software (BSD) and now it's just attacking competition that uses Free software, using the very antithesis of Free software.
⬆
“Software patents are a huge potential threat to the ability of people to work together on open source. Making it easier for companies and communities that have patents to make those patents available in a common pool for people to use is one way to try to help developers deal with the threat.”
--Linus Torvalds
Intellectual monopolies inside
Comments
oiaohm
2009-01-23 13:08:15
Open Source world and Apple have a very love hate relationship. Apple works on cups and give it to everyone. Yet at other times they enforce there patents.
mpz
2009-01-23 18:39:57
Anyone old enough to remember their original 'look and feel' lawsuit over windows (1?) knows they're one of the nastiest, litigious pieces of work in existance. I know i will never own any piece of apple-made hardware because they're simply arseholes.
The Mad Hatter
2009-01-24 06:22:28
Roughly Drafted claims that Tim Cook was misquoted. Interesting if true. Another point to consider is that there appears to be no mention of Linux, just of Palm.
Dan O'Brian
2009-01-24 12:54:46
The more patents that Novell have, the more likely they will be able to fight back against these attacks by Apple.
But oh yea, I forgot, you /want/ Novell to die, /that's/ the real reason you badmouth them for obtaining patents because your favorite companies like Red Hat also file for patents, but we never hear you complaining about that. Your hypocrisy shows itself once again.
Roy Schestowitz
2009-01-24 12:59:34
Dan O'Brian
2009-01-24 14:31:59
Roy Schestowitz
2009-01-24 14:38:49
Dan O'Brian
2009-01-24 14:44:43
Red Hat also has a marketing department and they also attack competitors.
This is nothing new, stop pretending that Novell is the only company to market their advantages over other companies. It shows your irrational hatred for everything Novell.
Roy Schestowitz
2009-01-24 14:49:18
Roy Schestowitz
2009-01-25 09:17:09
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=34922 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=34978