Good luck with that.
by T. Colin Dodd
For those who pay attention to software patent issues, Microsoft’s recent grousing that free software violates at least 235 of its (as yet unnamed) patents doesn’t amount to much more than an absurd attempt to scare users away from demonstrably better competition.
Sophisticated software makers and patent attorneys know better and eagerly await the day when Microsoft is forced to put up or shut up. Until then, the sabre rattling (and resulting eye-rolling) is expected to continue and increase in intensity throughout the summer.
As untennable as it seems, exploiting a ‘better safe than sued’ attitude has become the strategy of choice for self-styled protectors of so-called Intellectual Property. It’s interesting to see how suing your customers (or threatening to) has become the new marketing strategy for Microsoft and the Recording industry.
Update: Here’s some timely video of Eben Moglen discussing Microsoft’s “Summer of Fear” at last week’s Red Hat Summit.
