Thinkpads Forum

Wall Street Journal, Nov 2, 2006

Microsoft Gives Linux a Boost
Through Partnership With Novell
By ROBERT A. GUTH
November 2, 2006 6:03 p.m.


Microsoft Corp. is entering into an unusual partnership with Novell Inc. that gives a boost to the Linux operating system, a rival to the software giant's Windows software.

Under the pact, Microsoft will offer sales support of Suse Linux, a version of the operating system sold by Novell. The two companies have also agreed to develop technologies to make it easier for users to run both Suse Linux and Microsoft's Windows on their computers.

The two companies announced details of their plan Thursday at a press conference in San Francisco.

In addition, Microsoft won't assert rights over patents over software technology that may be incorporated into Suse Linux. Businesses that use Linux have long worried that Microsoft would one day file patent infringement suits against sellers of the rival software.

The pact marks an unusual level of cooperation between two longtime rivals. Microsoft has been battling all versions of Linux, but has faced pressure to assure that customers can run both Windows and Linux without problems.

By forging a peace pact with one seller of Linux, Microsoft could raise pressure on Red Hat Inc., the leading provider of Linux, and a Novell rival. Last week, Oracle Corp. announced that it would start selling its own support for Red Hat's version of Linux, a plan that undercuts Red Hat's own business, which is based on providing support and maintenance. Red Hat's shares fell sharply after that announcement.

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For many more details (sounds very interesting!)
http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonmatusow/arch ... ridge.aspx

I really, really doubt this will turn out to be a good thing for Linux. There are no reasons whatsoever Microsoft would sign such an agreement out of generosity.

Personally I think, a long with thousands of other Linux users, that MS is doing this to split the free software community. Novell has had major financial troubles for some time, a buyout by MS is likely to happen. Divide and Conquer, anyone?

Besides, the whole thing about allowing the other company to violate their patents is ridiculous. Microsoft has yet to prove Linux does indeed violate a patent, although they have threatened to sue both consumers and companies on several accounts.

SUSE and SLED 10 will probably be losing a lot of users the coming days, as more and more are boycotting those products. There's no way I'm buying an SLED license, since MS will be getting royalties for their "patents".

Ah well, at least we still have Canonical and Red Hat left.

By the way, the article you linked to is a site controlled by MS, no wonder it says this arrangement is so wonderful...