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But the Android vendors are already using a commodity OS in Linux, but still have to pay Microsoft patent royalties on it.

by mrich 14y ago

grimboy 14y ago
It's hard to collect royalties from individual users.
- reddit_clone 14y ago
  They can always learn from RIAA/MPAA folks.
- sseveran 14y ago
  They will charge the manufacturers who in turn will charge you.
dragonbonheur 14y ago
As far as I know, the payments are for Android-specific features that those devices use. I don't think it has ever been proven that Linux infringes Microsoft Patents. In fact Microsoft contributed code to Linux and continues to do so (81980085). If there are violations, the most serious are about some FAT/VFAT patents and the Linux developer community can come up with alternative filesystems on solid-state disks. From http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/index.htm http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/... << But he does break down the total number allegedly violated - 235 - into categories. He says that the Linux kernel - the deepest layer of the free operating system, which interacts most directly with the computer hardware - violates 42 Microsoft patents. The Linux graphical user interfaces - essentially, the way design elements like menus and toolbars are set up - run afoul of another 65, he claims. The Open Office suite of programs, which is analogous to Microsoft Office, infringes 45 more. E-mail programs infringe 15, while other assorted FOSS programs allegedly transgress 68. >> So who must they sue? Right now, I'm sure Microsoft enjoys being perceived as less lawsuit-happy than Apple.
- freehunter 14y ago
  There's no point in using lawsuits to shut down someone you don't feel threatened by. It's bad press and a waste of money. Microsoft removed Linux from its list of threats [1] this year, and it's questionable to me if Linux was ever a threat to Microsoft's profits. Microsoft is unlikely to sue Linux developers in general for the reasons above, but once something rises above and becomes a threat (Android), they'll bring the hammer down. Whether or not these patent claims are legitimate or not, some Android vendors apparently found that it was more cost-effective to license rather than battle it out in court. [1] http://www.neowin.net/news/micorosft-no-longers-considers-linux-a-threat-for-desktops http://www.neowin.net/news/micorosft-no-longers-considers-li...

But the Android vendors are already using a commodity OS in Linux, but still have to pay Microsoft patent royalties on it.

by mrich 14y ago

But the Android vendors are already using a commodity OS in Linux, but still have to pay Microsoft patent royalties on it.

grimboy 14y ago

It's hard to collect royalties from individual users.

reddit_clone 14y ago
They can always learn from RIAA/MPAA folks.
sseveran 14y ago
They will charge the manufacturers who in turn will charge you.

dragonbonheur 14y ago

As far as I know, the payments are for Android-specific features that those devices use. I don't think it has ever been proven that Linux infringes Microsoft Patents. In fact Microsoft contributed code to Linux and continues to do so (81980085). If there are violations, the most serious are about some FAT/VFAT patents and the Linux developer community can come up with alternative filesystems on solid-state disks. From http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/index.htm http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/... << But he does break down the total number allegedly violated - 235 - into categories. He says that the Linux kernel - the deepest layer of the free operating system, which interacts most directly with the computer hardware - violates 42 Microsoft patents. The Linux graphical user interfaces - essentially, the way design elements like menus and toolbars are set up - run afoul of another 65, he claims. The Open Office suite of programs, which is analogous to Microsoft Office, infringes 45 more. E-mail programs infringe 15, while other assorted FOSS programs allegedly transgress 68. >> So who must they sue? Right now, I'm sure Microsoft enjoys being perceived as less lawsuit-happy than Apple.

freehunter 14y ago
There's no point in using lawsuits to shut down someone you don't feel threatened by. It's bad press and a waste of money. Microsoft removed Linux from its list of threats [1] this year, and it's questionable to me if Linux was ever a threat to Microsoft's profits. Microsoft is unlikely to sue Linux developers in general for the reasons above, but once something rises above and becomes a threat (Android), they'll bring the hammer down. Whether or not these patent claims are legitimate or not, some Android vendors apparently found that it was more cost-effective to license rather than battle it out in court. [1] http://www.neowin.net/news/micorosft-no-longers-considers-linux-a-threat-for-desktops http://www.neowin.net/news/micorosft-no-longers-considers-li...