New Campaign: Show Us The Infringements, Microsoft
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz
- 2007-02-25 05:06:29 UTC
- Modified: 2007-02-27 12:12:52 UTC
Allow us to start with this
timely prelude:
...Darl McBride, CEO of SCO, in 2003:
"The intellectual property roots of Linux are obviously flawed at a systemic level under the current model. To date, we claim that more than one million lines of UNIX System V protected code have been contributed to Linux through this model. The flaws inherent in the Linux process must be openly addressed and fixed."
SCO has become a laughing stock since then. To make matters worse, its secret
connections with Microsoft got exposed and now it's
facing bankruptcy.
Steve Ballmer,
on behalf on Microsoft, intends to repeat this routine by making shallow accusations while refusing to disclose specifics. As a result, a new Web site/campaign has just been launched. The domain name is
showusthecode.com. To quote the
Open Letter:
It's come to many in the Linux community's attention you have claimed again and again, that Linux violates Microsoft's intellectual property. Not only that, but it's been reported Microsoft has convinced businesses to pay for a Linux patent that you can't provide.
[...]
How many corporations, how many organizations, how many community members will it take to call your bluff, Steven?
A recent rebuttal argued that Microsoft
may be the biggest IP thief of all times. To back this argument, we have collected some bit and pieces which readers may find handy.
