14 DAY TRIAL // Guess what story just won't end up once for good? Exactly; the one started by Microsoft when it accused Linux of infringing some MS patents. Just to remind it, Microsoft claimed in an interview with Fortune magazine that Linux and other free software infringed on 235 patents the company holds. After listening the statements made by both sides, MS and Linus Tovarlds, and also by the numerous Linux users and developers who felt offended by these accusations, Novell decided it's time to share its opinion too.
I must admit Novell's situation was a bit difficult. On one hand it was impossible for it to approve Microsoft's claims, but on the other it was not quite nice to trash them, now that they are partners since last November. But in the end, Justin Steinman, Novell director of product marketing for Linux and open source, plucked up his courage and made a statement:
"I want to make it extremely clear. We do not think there are any IP violations in Linux..."
Indeed, Mr. Steinman, there is no IP violations in Linux, that's what we've been saying from the very beginning. Also Novell released an open letter from the behalf of its CEO, Ron Hovsepian to sustain its position against Microsoft's beliefs.
Extract from the open letter mentioned above:
"We disagree with the recent statements made by Microsoft on the topic of Linux and patents. Importantly, our agreement with Microsoft is in no way an acknowledgment that Linux infringes upon any Microsoft intellectual property. When we entered the patent cooperation agreement with Microsoft, Novell did not agree or admit that Linux or any other Novell offering violates Microsoft patents."
Novell's official has also harped on specifying that their agreement with the Redmond-based company targets only the improvement of the interoperability between their two systems, Linux respectively Windows. According to him, that much controversial patent agreement "simply takes the patent issue off the table for those customers who are concerned about it."