Linus responds to Microsoft

[greggh]

http://www.informationweek.com/news/sho ... =199600443

Linus Torvalds, lead developer of the Linux kernel, has a sharp retort to Microsoft executives' statements in a Fortune magazine article that Linux and other open-source code violate 235 Microsoft patents.

"It's certainly a lot more likely that Microsoft violates patents than Linux does," said Torvalds, holder of the Linux trademark. If the source code for Windows could be subjected to the same critical review that Linux has been, Microsoft would find itself in violation of patents held by other companies, said Torvalds.

"Basic operating system theory was pretty much done by the end of the 1960s. IBM probably owned thousands of really 'fundamental' patents," Torvalds said in a response to questions submitted by InformationWeek. But he doesn't like any form of patent saber rattling. "The fundamental stuff was done about half a century ago and has long, long since lost any patent protection," he wrote.

Microsoft should name the patents that it claims have been violated so the claims can be tested in court or so open-source developers can rewrite code to avoid the violation, Torvalds wrote.

"Naming them would make it either clear that Linux isn't infringing at all (which is quite possible, especially if the patents are bad), or would make it possible to avoid infringing by coding around whatever silly thing they claim," he said.

"So the whole, 'We have a list and we're not telling you,' itself should tell you something," Torvalds said of Microsoft's stance in the Fortune story. And for good measure, he added: "Don't you think that if Microsoft actually had some really foolproof patent, they'd just tell us and go, 'nyaah, nyaah, nyaah!'"

Microsoft would prefer not to actually sue anyone, particularly a Linux user who's also a Microsoft customer. "They'd have to name the patents then, and they're probably happier with the FUD [fear, uncertainty, doubt] than with any lawsuit," Torvalds predicted.

It's too bad that Linus still hasn't come forward and endorsed GPLv3. I think it's a personal thing with him and Stallman. I get the feeling that Linus just doesn't respect Stallman and the FSF. That lack of respect seemed to show itself way back even in the clip in RevolutionOS when Stallman was on stage and Linus just played with his kids and seemed to laugh him off. It's true that Stallman often comes across as a whackjob, but Linus should at least be aware of and respect the important contributions that he has made. I just don't think he does.

[allix]

It's too bad that Linus still hasn't come forward and endorsed GPLv3. I think it's a personal thing with him and Stallman. I get the feeling that Linus just doesn't respect Stallman and the FSF. That lack of respect seemed to show itself way back even in the clip in RevolutionOS when Stallman was on stage and Linus just played with his kids and seemed to laugh him off. It's true that Stallman often comes across as a whackjob, but Linus should at least be aware of and respect the important contributions that he has made. I just don't think he does.

Linus does not have anything against FSF , otherwise why would he use the GPL ?
First of all V 3 is not out, so how can you not blame him?
The on-stage clip in the film was laughed by everyone in that hall, not just linux, also his kids were young at the time, and kids run around , he cannot exactly ignore them.

Linus does respect what FSF does, otherwise he would be hacking on *BSD

[snarkout]

That lack of respect seemed to show itself way back even in the clip in RevolutionOS when Stallman was on stage and Linus just played with his kids and seemed to laugh him off. It's true that Stallman often comes across as a whackjob, but Linus should at least be aware of and respect the important contributions that he has made. I just don't think he does.

It's strange how two people can see a situation so completely differently. All I saw was RMS being rude and needlessly picky about receiving a "linux" rather than a "GNU/Linux" award, then likening himself and his colleagues to the Rebel Forces and Linux/Linus to Han Solo.