And Ballmer Blathers On
After reading an InformationWeek article about Steve Ballmer suggesting, yet again, that GNU/Linux users - or at least the Red Hat users - owe Microsoft money for violating patents he, yet again, refuses to disclose. But Ballmer is missing something - or maybe I am.
Yes, boys and girls, here we go again. I'm beginning to wonder if this latest Ballmer claim is really news, or if it belongs on Fark.com. It's very reminiscent of the holiday traffic reports you see on the news. "There's going to be traffic". Every so often, Ballmer says we owe Microsoft money just to be sure Microsoft gets some more press, and hopefully, some newbie will hear it for the first time. I'm honestly surprised any reputable site would continue to carry such reports as news. Still, let's consider, once again, how Ballmer blathers on.. and on... and on...
I don't know about you, but Ballmer is calling out Red Hat. Ironically, he doesn't seem to insist that the Debian GNU/Linux users owe Microsoft money. No, it's just Red Hat users. He doesn't insist that Mandriva users, Ubuntu users or Gnewsense users or even DSL users owe Microsoft a dime. It's just Red Hat users. Yep, all the users of the other 300+ distributions are free as birds; it's just the Red Hat users. Maybe I'm ignorant - I confess to not being the most educated soul on the planet - but it just seems to me that either all of us owe Microsoft money or none of us owe Microsoft money. Again, more intelligent and observant people should correct me if I'm wrong.
Yes, I realize that if Samba is named as part of a lawsuit against Red Hat, then anyone using Samba potentially has a problem. The funny thing is, I don't use Samba. Oh, that's right! I don't use Samba because I don't use Windows. And I'm sure that's not where the buck stops - there just has to be more. The funny thing is, Microsoft doesn't seem to be attacking the actual developers, just the distributors of software that allegedly infringes on Microsoft's allegedly valid patents.
And for the last time, for crying out loud, how confident in their patents is Microsoft? I don't believe they have much confidence in their patents. Worse, they would rather threaten to file lawsuits than send letters to the developers asking them to correct the infringing code. This, as much as anything else, is what really breeds my mistrust in this company. I have nothing but the deepest disrespect for behavior like this.
I've said it before, and I'm saying it again. Show me the money, honey. Show me the patents our community allegedly infringes. Either put up, or shut up and sit down. Ballmer, I say you're bluffing - and I'll raise you. Either start sending out cease and desist letters, file a lawsuit, or just step down before you embarrass your company any further. To my fellow journalists, I highly recommend ignoring the little boy crying wolf. He only does it because he gets to watch everyone get all excited.
Comments
Lord Balmer the Profit
D. C....It seems that Balmer had a bit of inside information when he predicted that someone other than Microsoft would expect payment from Linux companies and users for supposed IP infringements. Now that IP Innovation LLC has filed suit against Red Hat and Novell the conspiracy appears more clear. Thankfully, Pamela and Growlaw (as well as persons like yourself) are on the ball. I have been using Suse since version 8.2. The writing may be on the wall, however. Not because I want to change. Rather, there isn't much doubt that Balmer plans to shoot Novell once they have been weakened by a number of lesser Redmond agents. I don't think it random that Balmer makes his prediction then a company with at least to Redmond operatives files suit. It seems to me that Apple sued Microsoft some time ago relative to the patent in question. MIght there be some precedent set already?
I must hand it to Mr. Balmer. When you can get other people to take your bullets, by put yourself up front?
I agree with your point of
I agree with your point of view. I've actually raised the point about pointing out the infringing code before. In fact, I was one of the early birds calling for MS to bring out the Cease & Desist letters: http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/75079/index.html
D.C. Parris
Publisher, Blue Gnu
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dcparris
https://www.xing.com/profile/Don_Parris
Steve Balmer
Steve Balmer suffers from a distinct lack of integrity. Not only does Microsoft settle a number a lawsuits annually but they also have the advantage of studying open source software continuously. There is likely a lot of "borrowed" IP in Microsoft software. If Mr. Balmer has a shred of integrity he would point to the code he claims infringes on Microsoft IP. His behavior is more akin to psychological warefare. He doesn't have to be the least bit honest, nor is he. No doubt he sees himself as an upstanding pillar of the community, a paragon of virtue. But then, Pablo Escobar was considered a saint in his home community in Columbia.