Linux  and Free Software :: Microsoft patents



Sounds like MS to me.

My other concern on this is that MS will use its clout with all hardware manufacturers, forcing them them to create interfaces that will be copyrighted and licensed only to MS, as well as encrypted and the info provided only to MS, so as to prevent anyone from using any new hardware except through MS Windows.
i beg to differ somewhat. open or free software would do much better if it didn't look anything like M$. infact the more it looks like M$, the more it helps M$.

free software should use different formats, that way, people would have more incentive to use it instead of M$.
Quote (humpty @ May 21 2007,11:14)
i beg to differ somewhat. open or free software would do much better if it didn't look anything like M$. infact the more it looks like M$, the more it helps M$.

free software should use different formats, that way, people would have more incentive to use it instead of M$.

That wasn't quite what I was referring to...

I was referring to the possibility that in the future, once current hardware wears out, there won't be CPU to be found that isn't licenced exclusively for one of the big guys, M$, Apple, Sun, etc..

Maybe there'll be a few holdouts, companies who will still produce hardware that doesn't make it a crime to write open-source software for...  hopefully...

what started my concern was the winmodem, and hearing about that guy in (norway, i think it was) who got sued for writing a driver that allowed linux users to mount a DVD.

If M$ and linux look vastly different, that is ok with me.
If it contributes to ease your mind, pay a visit to  www.OpenCores.org
Quote
I was referring to the possibility that in the future, once current hardware wears out, there won't be CPU to be found that isn't licenced exclusively for one of the big guys, M$, Apple, Sun, etc..

Sun?! They're in the process of open-sourcing most of their products, including (maybe) Solaris.
http://lucky13.blogsavy.com/category/sun/
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