Interesting that this article is from 2006. Whats happened since then?
For example, he complains about MS defending their patents, and sees this as a direct attach on Open Source. Other than the fact that Android is sort-of-open, there doesn't seem to be a relationship. As he points out the patent problem is the fault of the USPO, not MS. Yet still spends half the article on this topic. (To call MS out for patent litigation is completely absurd - the list of companies currently litigating over patents is really, really long.)
Exhibit B has to do with MS lobbying for favorable legislation. Again this is pretty much standard practice with large companies these days. Sure it's dumb legislation, but blame the politicians for failing their job, not the company for doing theirs. again the direct link to "attacking open source" seems weak.
So here you have a company indulging in activities that pretty much all the major players are doing these days. Patent protection and lobbying are not exactly MS invented tactics. Both exist because the legislative system allows for them.
No, for using bogus patents to attack competition. Defending patents is something totally different.
> Again this is pretty much standard practice with large companies these days. Sure it's dumb legislation, but blame the politicians for failing their job,
Neither popularity of the practice nor ineptitude of the parties whose duty is to prevent it make the practice OK in my book.
He's obviously not alone, but it's a pity when the
article is clouded with so much obvious bias
MS defending their patents
as a direct attach on Open Source
Microsoft is attacking all its competitors that are perceived as threats, not by means of healthy competition and innovation -- but by cloning products, distributing those products by means of its monopoly, actively seeking even the dumbest of patents, changing legislature in their favor, and also suing and threatening the smaller companies that can't fight back (like Motorola and HTC).
If this trend continues, sooner or later everybody will pay a Microsoft-tax, i.e. Microsoft will be the ultimate patent troll.
the list of companies currently litigating over
patents is really, really long
this is pretty much standard practice with large
companies these days
Sure it's dumb legislation, but blame the
politicians for failing their job
Patent protection and lobbying are not exactly
MS invented tactics. Both exist because the
legislative system allows for them.
Great way of pointing out how much the situation sucks, btw. Yes, it's not Microsoft's fault, it's the fault of their customers that tolerate, excuse or applaud such behavior, without thinking that this hurts the economy and ultimately everybody.
And btw, in this reply I haven't mentioned "open-source" once, as this is a problem far bigger than that, IMHO.
Unfortunately the author writes the article from a point-of-view that implies that this is a "Microsoft versus Open-Source" issue. This is a pity because it allows people to choose sides based on their personal view of Microsoft. It hides the real issue, which is that the Patent system is broken, and the legislative system is bought-and-paid-for by companies who can effectively afford to buy an election.
Patent litigation, and the threat thereof affects software companies in numerous ways quite independently of their open, or closed, source nature.
Company-favored-legislation is rife across all industries.
My point is not that it's ok for MS to behave like this - my point is that to pitch the problem as being caused by MS allows the issue to be clouded - for example should we picket outside Redmond, or the USPO in Washington?