Microsoft's Novell patent cartel dodges German regulators A Microsoft-led consortium is still set to buy 882 Novell patents. Reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. PC World reported here that plans to create CPTN Holdings have been withdrawn, with the publication citing information from the website of the German Federal Cartel Office. CPTN withdrew its application to …
"Backed by Apple, Oracle, and EMC as well as Microsoft, CPTN is spending $450m to buy a bag of Novell patents."
That sounds like the Evil Corp League of America. Don't know about EMC, but Apple, Oracle and Microsoft will happily engage in mass source-closing movements to bully their propietary stuff as the only option. This is indeed very bad.
they are mainly against every and any (dishonest) corporate entity that is trying to kill/damage FOSS. However, far from being a [insert_your_favorite_company_name]-bashing site, they competently comment on public documents from US courts of justice and official press releases. In case you didn't follow the whole saga, on Apple vs. Psystar Groklaw was squarely on Apple's side (which is far from being an FOSS friend). And if one day Microsoft will do the right thing towards FOSS, don't worry, Groklaw will be on their side too, but don't hold your breath waiting for that day. With their bad anti-competitive behavior coded deep into their DNA, Microsoft would never be able of such a gesture. Even if you don't like Groklaw, reading some court documents from Comes vs. Microsoft available on their site will be a real eye opener in case of course you care about your digital freedoms.
I mean .. no one seems to know what's in the deal but has anyone gave em a buzz and tried to get an interview ? ( i hope so )
Meanwhile i suggest we all write Novell 's Ian Bruce and maybe ( i did ) after a few thousand emails we may get an answer as to what's sold and if any patents relate to linux of foss/floss/GNU.
Stop complaining you don't know and write too .. pressure might help squeeze some info.
This is a new age where large numbers get attention.
Ric
It seems like a defensive move to protect the companies involved against patent trolls to me because of the fact that its being done by a consortium. I'd be rather more worried if any one company acquired them, but a consortium where all members would have to agree action before its taken seems rather more like a defensive movement to me.
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