The morals thing and Microsoft love thing I mentioned was a little below the belt. The thing is that it would not shock me if I were to find out that Microsoft studies and classifies targets to some degree (whether accurate or not), always trying to get for free what they might otherwise buy, and always trying to find a way to vanquish the opponent. It’s about $$. Deception is effective and efficient.

I don’t know much about Novell’s patents though we certainly got an idea with SCOX-aga that they own something.

I don’t worry about copyrights, and I have never worried too much about patents. I do hope Bilski helps a lot.

I think the sanest approach to avoiding/defending against patents is to always try to come up with something through your own way or to try to stick to a wide mix of things. In a group atmosphere, you would have to place trust on the components. Having a mixed bag is safest (not putting all eggs in same basket). Not sure what would happen in court, but I feel I would try to defend my position vigorously if there was a record of how some result was achieved (as opposed to having copied or borrowed). This would make easier arguing that the “invention” was not that amazing to begin with. [Of course, the point of FOSS is that you borrow as much as reasonable.] Also, there are groups that will disclaim various things. Stay away from particular situations if there is reason to think the patent risks are already elevated. When you have enough understanding of the material, you can more quickly and effectively route around should you be pressured to do so. Etc.

When these things are done, you minimize the odds of a case 1/4 (vs 2/3) http://boycottnovell.com/2009/02/04/the-api-trap-part-1/ .

Finally, patents aren’t my only concern by a long shot; however, even there, if I were to have to pay or to have to abandon something, I’d rather it be because of someone I trusted and/or is small or something like that. You give people a chance.. just not 20. And the group attacking should realize they have something genuine to lose by turning against you. How high might the damage be? Etc.

- Brand would be damaged much more, apart from the gnu/linux guys, there’s all the netware and groupwise people with long memories.
- Possible regulatory interest which is currently avoided.
- Better ‘wedge’ potential as it is, e.g. now redhat has to counter two heads, rather than one, one of which is blurringly similar to themselves on the surface.
- Mono being an independent project lends tremendous legitimacy to the ecma standard and `cross platform’ claims.
- There would be something of an engineering exodus. It may be delayed by the dire economy but it would happen eventually.

etc.etc.

I wouldn’t pick on the `morals’ of the employees – Novell is a pretty good place to work, they pay well, have good benefits, and have quite a few interesting things to work on. HR are jerks, but that’s their job.

I think the intent of the original question was regarding a more direct impact on linux itself? Novell has a lot of IP related to Unix, and probably a lot of other IP related to modern computing in general e.g. networking, security, authentication and authorisation – identity management, and so forth. In that regard it could be an issue.

Not to mention controlling a large number of developers – even if many got pissed off and left.

But they’d be better off funding/encouraging a proxy to buy them in almost all of these cases, if it came down to that.

And i’m sure both Sun and IBM, and Google would have something to say about it – they have much more to lose than the free software community.

I doubt they’re going `down’ any time soon though, a few layoffs is expected in the current economic climate. Just as a lower-than-expected profit for MS isn’t even close to the end of redmond.

And being laid off really sucks, hopefully those who are have planned for this, or can find work elsewhere.

The downside of never censoring comments is that people become suspects until proven otherwise.

Jose_X,

aeshna23 is with the white team, not Dark Forces.

Just for the record, I’m sincerely interested in the topic. I’m concerned about the patents that Novell has.

You sound like you are trolling big-time. And do you mean to suggest by this comment that Linux is not being hurt now?

I’ll bite…

Right now Novell are Microsoft’s GPL mittens.

Microsoft has many preferred partnerships, companies that get very special treatment to help further Microsoft’s goals. One reason they aren’t bought is that antitrust rules would kick in.

Novell is also Microsoft’s ambassador to the FOSS world (or the traitorous servant that opens the back door to let them in and clean you out.. take your pick).

Really, it’s cheaper not to buy. Keeping “illegitimate children” around or court jesters or whatever is a cheap way to get others to grovel at your feet but cost only a fraction. Leadership hierarchies of companies that are Microsoft partners ensure that only a very few (select few at the top mainly) have to get paid handsomely. Microsoft has many special partners (some more special than others). This partner network helps them keep their monopolies. It would be too expensive to pay market value for each company. And it’s more fun to keep them competing with each other for attention.

Novell, VMware, etc, channels and talent will very possibly one day be in the cleaning out stages. Let the stockholders that weren’t savvy be left with the shell companies. [in the case where the partner doesn't make it into the next level]

Microsoft gains with Novell on the side and they may very well dump them tomorrow anyway. Why buy when you can take everything you need much cheaper through other means? Novell could belong to the court and get greater privileges than a serf, but still cost a lot less than the actual King, Queen, Princes(ses), etc.

Microsoft has ex-employees working in other companies likely contributing towards Microsoft ends. These people are closer to the “family” than most that would be picked up in an acquisition. They’ll save their million dollar bills for their extended family.

So, I don’t know where Novell will end up.

Look, Novell is helping to grow Microsoft’s platform hooks and is sharing their intelligence with Microsoft. They’re being useful to Microsoft right where they are. Whether they get bought entirely, have some of their assets bought (or stolen), or whatever is a detail as far as I’m concerned.

Novell might also serve as a magnet to attract those developers in love with Microsoft. If these will grovel for cheap.. if these still have a few moral bits left.. they likely will be cheaper and as useful if kept in the pool of illegitimates. Although particularly low-moral ones can serve well here, as well. [To keep things simple, I'm using "low morals" to cover things like "every man for himself".]

I’m probably off, but this is roughly how I view Microsoft’s world and Microsoft’s attitude towards it. Yes, some will benefit, at a cost to most everyone else.

[Hey, I’m in the rant posting business “today” http://boycottnovell.com/2009/02/05/microsoft-emc-vmware-for-patents/#comment-59419 . No, it’s probably coincidence.]