Comments on: Red Hat, Novell Sued For Patent Infringement http://www.liquidmatrix.org/blog/2007/10/31/red-hat-novell-sued-for-patent-infringement/ Bringing Fire To The Village: Your Source For Computer, Network & Information Security News from Dave Lewis, Security Blogger Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:44:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Vitaliy http://www.liquidmatrix.org/blog/2007/10/31/red-hat-novell-sued-for-patent-infringement/#comment-60728 Vitaliy Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:48:20 +0000 http://www.liquidmatrix.org/blog/2007/10/31/red-hat-novell-sued-for-patent-infringement/#comment-60728 Groklaw is doing great coverage of this whole mess, here is a quote that sum it all up "So in July one Microsoft executive arrives; then as of October 1, there is the second, a patent guy. October 9, IP Innovation, a subsidiary, sues Red Hat. And Novell. So much for being Microsoft's little buddy." http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=20071011205044141 Groklaw is doing great coverage of this whole mess, here is a quote that sum it all up
“So in July one Microsoft executive arrives; then as of October 1, there is the second, a patent guy. October 9, IP Innovation, a subsidiary, sues Red Hat. And Novell. So much for being Microsoft’s little buddy.”
http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=20071011205044141

]]> By: Dave Lewis http://www.liquidmatrix.org/blog/2007/10/31/red-hat-novell-sued-for-patent-infringement/#comment-60712 Dave Lewis Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:57:50 +0000 http://www.liquidmatrix.org/blog/2007/10/31/red-hat-novell-sued-for-patent-infringement/#comment-60712 @Vitaliy Yup. I'm well aware of their history of abusive tactics. But, is this a Microsoft front or this just a case of a few ex-employees that happen to work there? I actually opted not to write about the Microsoft connection as I was unsure of the validity of the argument. Thanks for the comment. cheers @Vitaliy

Yup. I’m well aware of their history of abusive tactics. But, is this a Microsoft front or this just a case of a few ex-employees that happen to work there? I actually opted not to write about the Microsoft connection as I was unsure of the validity of the argument.

Thanks for the comment.

cheers

]]> By: Vitaliy http://www.liquidmatrix.org/blog/2007/10/31/red-hat-novell-sued-for-patent-infringement/#comment-60710 Vitaliy Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:44:51 +0000 http://www.liquidmatrix.org/blog/2007/10/31/red-hat-novell-sued-for-patent-infringement/#comment-60710 Many technology news outlets have already reported that "IP Innovation and Technology Licensing Corporation" has connections to Microsoft (Brad Brunell after 16 years at Microsoft has joined this patent holding company as senior vice president, and Jonathan Taub was director of strategic alliances for mobile devices at Microsoft and has joined the patent company as vice president). This patent was used in the past to sue other companies as well, and every time they lost the case because of prior art. It is part of Microsoft's strategy to damage Linux reputation simply using fear and uncertainty. For example when management in a large corporation has to make a purchase decision they will see the news and simply think "hey, we can not buy Red Hat's product because they may be infringing"... Microsoft have been doing this type of stuff for years, nothing new. Many technology news outlets have already reported that “IP Innovation and Technology Licensing Corporation” has connections to Microsoft (Brad Brunell after 16 years at Microsoft has joined this patent holding company as senior vice president, and Jonathan Taub was director of strategic alliances for mobile devices at Microsoft and has joined the patent company as vice president).

This patent was used in the past to sue other companies as well, and every time they lost the case because of prior art.

It is part of Microsoft’s strategy to damage Linux reputation simply using fear and uncertainty. For example when management in a large corporation has to make a purchase decision they will see the news and simply think “hey, we can not buy Red Hat’s product because they may be infringing”… Microsoft have been doing this type of stuff for years, nothing new.

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