Microsoft made quite clear their longer term strategy with the leaking of the 'Halloween' memos. And they confirmed their common methodology with their funding of SCO during their attempt to claim protocol ownerships. MS like to work from the back, in that, if a particular strategy should fail, then they don't suffer any direct consequence.
The trawling for smaller companies that possess innovative technologies, but are financially vulnerable, and then acquiring them, has long been one of their prime methods.
The Novell deal follows this pattern. Except that they are curiously stepping forward directly.
Notice ... the deal to restrain from exercising , what they consider their legitament patent claims, for a limited time period ... only pertains to Novell.
But they refer to it as a benevolence to open source and Linux ! Which it isn't ... as Novell is neither. They merely utilise open source and Linux. Certainly not Free Open Source and GNU/Linux !
They mix the terms !,
The way terminology is commonly used can have a very real legal implication. Which is what i suspect their strategy here involves.
Attempting to influence what the perceived definition(s) of each are. So as to support a furtue litigation with regard to patent infrigments. There trying to lay down some ground work in preparation for a more aggressive push. Possibly starting after the agreement time period with Novell ends ... around 6 years i think.
Things like this, if there is little consequence in the short term, it can become backgrounded. People will tend to forget about it. Or even just see it as corporate foolishness.
They are not fools ! and they do know exactly what their doing. But like all large plans ... there is always someone who can't keep their mouth shut, and will spill some hint or the other.
In this case it's Ballmer, tripping over his incredibly inflated ego, providing some insight.
Does GNU/Linux and Open Source really need the whole world to run Linux desktops, at any cost. With the dumbing down of a fine system, just to attract people who, frankly, don't really care about GNU/Linux anyway, as a consequence. Where did that idea come from ? ... the constant taunting on how hard it is ?. I think the community have been the bunnies to a large degree in this respect. FUD really is effective after all
. It's already worked on us.
Open Source and GNU/Linux have been doing quite well really, without this idea thats cropped up, that big business _has_ to involve it self in such a way, that their thought of as the only ones able to take Linux to the next step. Like ... we really need them and all ...
What step is that any way !.... hmmmmmmmm.
jm
Yes, i do know what the time is, by the way. I wrote it down yesterday.
