Microsoft Claims IP Rights on Portions of OpenGL

An anonymous reader writes "Minutes of the latest OpenGL ARB meeting reveal that Microsoft is claiming IP over the vertex and fragment extensions, both critical for exposing the capabilities of modern graphics hardware. The minutes also include an update on the progress of OpenGL 2.0." The question is, what does this mean for Linux -- how will Microsoft exercise their "rights"?

i just went to microsoft update...

[edrugtrader]

1 update pending

Would you like to install MSClosedGL 1.0?

What are we doing tonight?

[gato_mato]

Pinky: What are we tonight Bill? Bill G.: Same thing we do every night Pinky! Try to take over the World! ---- Still trying to figure out how to use NetSaint.

What Microsoft will probably do

[wrinkledshirt]

Boy, I just flew in here, and boy, are my arms tired.

[audience laughter]

Thank you, thank you, you guys are so nice.

The question is, what does this mean for Linux -- how will Microsoft exercise their "rights"?

Oh, no doubt they're just being protective of their property and make sure that this aspect of the software ecosystem is managed responsibly and openly. I doubt they'll use this for leverage over independent vendors.

[audience laughter]

Thank you! I'm here all week!

Re:It's not what it'll do to Linux...

[Lord Omlette]

OpenGL will die on Windows at ~the same time as John Carmack dies.

Re:i just went to microsoft update...

[edrugtrader]

wow... bashing microsoft is now considered flamebait?! time to do some regex's on the user list and get rid of all the .microsoft.com signups...

Re:It's not what it'll do to Linux...

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes.

Yours sincerely,
Bill Gates.

NVidia must want some too...

[moby]

...becase if they continue to show their true MS colors, they can kiss my business goodbye, and hopefully others will follow suit and show them that we don't appreciate and will not tolerate that kind of business.

Re:It means nothing .

[t]

Microsoft doesn't develop graphics hardware, so what could they have in mind for these patents that makes them worth $62.5 million?

Uhh... they do have this flagging product called the xbox you know. Maybe they have been so used to being the "batter" that when Nvidia made them the "catcher" they felt that $62.5mil was a small price to pay for dominance.