Comments on: Hands Off My Tabs: A GNU/Linux Patent Suit http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/ open source software innovation support centre Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:30:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rowan Wilson http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Rowan Wilson Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:00:06 +0000 http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/#comment-130 I think the key to that is money. IP Innovations want, in their own words, to "monetize patent rights". Novell and Red Hat have some of the deepest pockets in the Linux distro business. I think the key to that is money. IP Innovations want, in their own words, to “monetize patent rights”. Novell and Red Hat have some of the deepest pockets in the Linux distro business.

]]> By: Stuart Yeates http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Stuart Yeates Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:36:43 +0000 http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/#comment-129 Interestingly, the suit is only against the commercial / supported versions of these companies products, rather than the move open Fedora and OpenSUSE. I wonder whether this was deliberate, or whether a suit against a small contained group of companies is just easier / cheaper. Interestingly, the suit is only against the commercial / supported versions of these companies products, rather than the move open Fedora and OpenSUSE.

I wonder whether this was deliberate, or whether a suit against a small contained group of companies is just easier / cheaper.

]]> By: Rowan Wilson http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Rowan Wilson Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:11:23 +0000 http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/#comment-128 I've amended the final sentence to moderate its breadth a little. I’ve amended the final sentence to moderate its breadth a little.

]]> By: Ross Gardler http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Ross Gardler Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:13:43 +0000 http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/#comment-127 I can agree with your restated point, I was just a little concerned about the finality and broadness of your original statement. I thought maybe I'd missed something in the patents concerned. thanks for the clarification. I can agree with your restated point, I was just a little concerned about the finality and broadness of your original statement. I thought maybe I’d missed something in the patents concerned. thanks for the clarification.

]]> By: Rowan Wilson http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Rowan Wilson Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:35:47 +0000 http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/#comment-126 Yes, you are right about this particular patent. Arguably it covers a great deal of what we think of as a windowing interface, but it could be avoided, I think. My point (although I agree I could have been clearer) is that with longer to run, the effort required to invent around the issues would cause a long caesura in desktop Linux releases, a market which is far from healthy in any case. Yes, a command line Linux would be unencumbered in this case, but there's no guarantee that the next patent to come along wont target the kernel. Whereas distributors of non-GPL-licensed OS's can bite the bullet and pay the licence fee, Linux distributors do not have that option. The hopeful mantra "we'll code around it" ignores the business reality that six months to a year of no product shipping from any commercial Linux vendors would cripple demand. Yes, you are right about this particular patent. Arguably it covers a great deal of what we think of as a windowing interface, but it could be avoided, I think. My point (although I agree I could have been clearer) is that with longer to run, the effort required to invent around the issues would cause a long caesura in desktop Linux releases, a market which is far from healthy in any case. Yes, a command line Linux would be unencumbered in this case, but there’s no guarantee that the next patent to come along wont target the kernel. Whereas distributors of non-GPL-licensed OS’s can bite the bullet and pay the licence fee, Linux distributors do not have that option. The hopeful mantra “we’ll code around it” ignores the business reality that six months to a year of no product shipping from any commercial Linux vendors would cripple demand.

]]> By: Ross Gardler http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Ross Gardler Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:41:03 +0000 http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/2007/10/22/hands-off-my-tabs-a-gnulinux-patent-suit/#comment-125 "If the patent had longer to run, though, a finding that GNU/Linux infringed it could result in a general inability to distribute, and the effective death of the OS." I think that is somewhat of an overstatement. Firstly the kernel is unaffected by any patent in the user interface domain. Secondly, the vast majority of tools in the GNU toolset are not affected by these patents. Finally, those tools that are affected could use a different interface if necessary (this would certainly be problematic though). However, I've not read the full complaint like you have. Is there more to it than the UI patents you mention? “If the patent had longer to run, though, a finding that GNU/Linux infringed it could result in a general inability to distribute, and the effective death of the OS.”

I think that is somewhat of an overstatement. Firstly the kernel is unaffected by any patent in the user interface domain. Secondly, the vast majority of tools in the GNU toolset are not affected by these patents. Finally, those tools that are affected could use a different interface if necessary (this would certainly be problematic though).

However, I’ve not read the full complaint like you have. Is there more to it than the UI patents you mention?

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