Linux fans urge Microsoft to sue them for patent infringement
By John Pospisil
I bet Microsoft didn’t see this coming. Microsoft’s snipe that Linux violates 235 patents has incited a bizarre backlash, with individual Linux users daring Microsoft to sue them for patent infringement.
A wiki petition, “Sue me first, Microsoft” set up by Christian Einfeldt of the Digitial Tipping Point is inviting Linux users to sign up to be sued by Microsoft. At the time of writing more than 450 Linux users had invited Microsoft’s head litigator Brad Smith to pay them a visit.
This initiative comes after Linus Torvalds, the man who started the Linux movement, told Microsoft that it’s more likely that Windows violates patents, and that if Microsoft is going to accuse Linux of patent violation, it should list the patents so that its claims can be tested in court.
Einfeld, who happens to be an attorney (but not in the field of intellectual property) believes Microsoft’s patent claims are without foundation, though he is careful to make it clear that the wiki offers no legal advice.
“This is not legal advice, nor even a legal opinion. This page is just my personal opinion as to why I am not scared that Microsoft is going to sue me personally. I also don’t really see them suing anyone else, frankly, but again, that is not a legal opinion, just common sense,” explained Einfeld.
If you too would like to join the petition, simply visit Sue me first, Microsoft and be prepared to supply the following information: name, email address, version of GNU Linux disto(s) being used, and a short statement explaining why you are using that distro.
It’s worth having a read of some of petition entries, some of them are quite amusing.
For example, Rajiv Bakulesh Shah, wants to be sued for some of his other personal open source software projects:
“I’ve developed my own open source software projects, Gray Matter (a chess engine) and Brainix (a microkernel). These projects probably infringe someone’s patent somewhere, so please go ahead and sue me over that too. Thanks!”
And this from Chris Rawson:
“In fact after you’ve sued me, you should then kick the living daylights out of me for having the audacity to dare to try and use a stable operating system. I’m sorry :-(”
However, this one from Emrah Ünal is my favorite:
“As a linux user for 9 years, I believe I deserve to be sued. There’s no escape from justice.”
The message from Linux users is loud and clear; Microsoft should stop bitching, and start suing!
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Read more entries by John Pospisil.
Stumble It!
May 22nd, 2007
Thank you for the story here. I don’t know how to add my comment to the other website but I thought I’d tell you why I use open source and Linux. I am a completely disabled veteran, 65 years old, and if it weren’t for open source and Linux, I wouldn’t be able to use a computer because I cannot affor new machines and new software. I know there are many others like myself who are able to communicate with their children, grandchildren, and families only because of Linux, since, in the U.S., a fixed income leaves no room for expensive products like Microsoft. I am eternally grateful to those who spend so much time making such an absolutely wonderful operating system available to everyone, including people like me, by making it free. If Microsoft decides to sue anyone, they will, most of all be hurting the poorest of us all by their actions.
William Roddy
May 22nd, 2007
Thanks for that comment William. I know some of my colleagues are not Linux fans, though personally, I think Linux is really valuable, and should be protected against companies like Microsoft.
May 23rd, 2007
Maybe Microsoft actually owns HTTPD software, SQUID and perhaps even Perl (you just never know). Maybe Microsoft has copyright on the ASCII code and god, what else …hmmm
May 23rd, 2007
Miscroscoff – Bend Over – Here Comes MS Fista Anonymous — 23/05/07
Fooey to Microsoft.
I am so sick of all their bull**** that I made the irrevocable decision to change over to Ubuntu Linux – and never come back.
Having Microsoft in my life / computer is like being molested and having some sick **** put their hands in your pants.
You MICROSOFT – are not going to mess with me or my machine – ever again.
And I will personally do what ever it takes to keep you out of my life and out of my machines.
June 7th, 2007
I am there in the 1100’s. 60 YO retired disabled military veteran. Been doing *BSD and GNU/Linux since turbolinux, caldera, and Red Hat, 1997.
Now, I build dumpster donated systems that run upto 50X faster in all processes on Pclinuxos and Mepis, than they ever did on M$.
If you want to spend the money to support “114,000 Microsoft Virus Malware Definitions” and the “Trusted Partner” Cartel in the Microsoft Protection Racket, just go ahead. I’ll surf safe with Free Open Source Software… FOSS