[Sussex] It had to happen :(

[Steven Dobson]

David

On Thu, 2006-11-02 at 22:33 +0000, David Chapman wrote:
> According to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft is to offer sales
> support of Suse Linux, the Linux version that Novell sells. The pact
> also calls for the two companies to find ways for computers to run both
> the Linux and Microsoft operating systems. Microsoft has agreed to
> waive any patent claims it might make over the technology used to
> support Suse Linux, according to the report.
> 
> http://www.novell.com/linux/microsoft/webcast.html
> 
> It had to happen :(

I don't see this as a bad thing, then again I don't see this as a good
thing either.  As you say: "It had to happen."

Having listened to the webcast the following things stood out:

1). Customers are saying that they want hetrogenious environments and
interoperbility.  I think this indicates that Microsoft has found a way
of saving face when their "Windows! Windows! Windows!" mantra falls on
deaf ears.  Now they can say: "If you want to run Windows and Linux
together then go buy SuSE Linux from Novell."

2). Microsoft as said that they will not be sueing private,
non-commerical developers of any patiant infriments in GPL code they
release.

I never thought they would.  Why?  Because it was a lose-lose situation
for them.  There are two possible outcomes from such a lawsuite:

 i). Microsoft loses.  As a result the patiant is invalidated and they
can't earn any money from licensing it.  Also they have to foot the
legial bill for the case - and these cases cost millions.

ii). Microsoft wins.  The developer is bankrupt as I doubt his bank
account holds anything like the costs Microsoft incures fighting the
case so they are out of pocket there.  Sure the patiant is still valid,
but it was valid before the case too.

3). The announcement talks about the "Linux market".  This is a business
partnership for business goals.  I can see RedHat being worried about
this as they don't have much of a Windows business.  However, HP & IBM
do so I wouldn't be surprised if simular partnerships are developed
there too.

As for the Linux community generally I don't think much has changed.

Steve