Microsoft Refuses To Rule Out Suing Its Own Customers - Way To Go Steve!
Microsoft is making some noise about Linux and other free open source software allegedly violating 235 of its patents. Microsoft has broken these down into categories: Linux kernel - 42 patent violations; Linux GUI - 65 violations; Open Office - 45 violations; e-mail software - 15 violations; various pieces of software - 68 violations.
So, who is Microsoft planning to sue for infringement? When asked by Fortune Magazine senior editor, Roger Parloff, if it would sue its own customers (many of which use the allegedly infringing Open Source software), Steve Ballmer, the Microsoft CEO said,
“That’s not a bridge we’ve crossed and not a bridge I want to cross today on the phone with you.”
So, not exactly a “No” then. Way to go Steve! Start suing your customers left, right and centre! I predict your shareholders would fire you in about a second… which would be about half a second after the customers you’re suing start planning to never license a piece of Microsoft software ever again…
At some point (hopefully soon), Microsoft will have to tell the world what the details of what these alleged 235 patent violations actually are. Right now, they’re refusing to release details, so no-one can assess the veracity of their claims.
It will be fascinating to see how this story develops. As both Larry Augustin and Tim Bray have said - litigate or shut up. Really.
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