Comments on: I Liked It Better When They Were Just Aggressive http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/11/17/i-liked-it-better-when-they-were-just-aggressive/ because technology is just another ecosystem Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:36:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: stephen o'grady http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/11/17/i-liked-it-better-when-they-were-just-aggressive/#comment-2672 stephen o'grady Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:06:13 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=1202#comment-2672 you're welcome to rant here any time. your remarks are even more interesting given the recent "clarifications" that Microsoft and Novell have issued around their announcements which have provoked the reactions i think either expected. you’re welcome to rant here any time. your remarks are even more interesting given the recent “clarifications” that Microsoft and Novell have issued around their announcements which have provoked the reactions i think either expected.

]]> By: Mike Dolan http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/11/17/i-liked-it-better-when-they-were-just-aggressive/#comment-2671 Mike Dolan Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:02:49 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=1202#comment-2671 SCO thought they had rights too. Ballmer's just stirring the FUD - and laughing his way back the MSFT Board. He probably realized it was cheaper to just run his mouth instead of pumping more millions into the 'get the facts' FUD machine (saves on SG&A). He also is probably confident nobody would actually sue him for making the comments - who has standing to sue on behalf of the Linux community for defamation? Now there's a law school final exam question... His problem will be community efforts like OIN if he ever trips the wire. It fascinates me the way communities react to "fear" about patents, IP, etc. It's like the fear of AIDS back before people actually understood it. Once people understand it (may take time), the communities will be much more comfortable and rest easier (and use public restrooms again). Who sues customers? - RIAA aside - that's what the MSFT-Novell agreement covered - and that's all it covered. It wasn't indemnity which is what Ballmer is twisting his words around to be. If Microsoft thought it had a legitimate claim - there's a company it can sue - two or more of them actually. Novell, Red Hat, Canonical, Mandriva - sue them. The agreement did not say that Microsoft could not sue Novell (or the reverse) - they're free to sue each other. The fact is Microsoft won't be suing its customers and if Microsoft really thought there was a patent issue or other IP issue - there are two publicly traded companies that are right there to sue. Microsoft hasn't been afraid to sue where it found problems with other companies - how is this any different? People need to get over the 'special case' 'because it's open source'. Stephen, I apologize for ranting here on your blog :-) I'll post my own rant on my site next time. SCO thought they had rights too. Ballmer’s just stirring the FUD - and laughing his way back the MSFT Board. He probably realized it was cheaper to just run his mouth instead of pumping more millions into the ‘get the facts’ FUD machine (saves on SG&A). He also is probably confident nobody would actually sue him for making the comments - who has standing to sue on behalf of the Linux community for defamation? Now there’s a law school final exam question… His problem will be community efforts like OIN if he ever trips the wire.

It fascinates me the way communities react to “fear” about patents, IP, etc. It’s like the fear of AIDS back before people actually understood it. Once people understand it (may take time), the communities will be much more comfortable and rest easier (and use public restrooms again).

Who sues customers? - RIAA aside - that’s what the MSFT-Novell agreement covered - and that’s all it covered.

It wasn’t indemnity which is what Ballmer is twisting his words around to be. If Microsoft thought it had a legitimate claim - there’s a company it can sue - two or more of them actually. Novell, Red Hat, Canonical, Mandriva - sue them. The agreement did not say that Microsoft could not sue Novell (or the reverse) - they’re free to sue each other.

The fact is Microsoft won’t be suing its customers and if Microsoft really thought there was a patent issue or other IP issue - there are two publicly traded companies that are right there to sue. Microsoft hasn’t been afraid to sue where it found problems with other companies - how is this any different? People need to get over the ’special case’ ‘because it’s open source’.

Stephen, I apologize for ranting here on your blog :-) I’ll post my own rant on my site next time.

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