Ballmer Won't Dismiss Idea of Suits Against Linux

An anonymous reader writes "According to an interview with Steve Ballmer in Forbes, Microsoft is open to the possibility of filing patent suits against Linux in the interest of their shareholders. Ballmer said: 'Well, I think there are experts who claim Linux violates our intellectual property. I'm not going to comment. But to the degree that that's the case, of course we owe it to our shareholders to have a strategy.' Microsoft filed more than 3000 new applications for software patents in 2005 and already owns more than 4000 patents, including many patents on fundamental, but trivial technologies, like double clicks."

quick somebody

[bigpat]

and already owns more than 4000 patents, including many patents on fundamental, but trivial technologies, like double clicks.

Patent the triple click or click(n + 1) and sue the bejesus out of Microsoft for all those times you have been waiting around for something to open and you just keep clicking.

What this really means...

[ImaNihilist]

Ballmer is just saying that he wants to challenge Linux Torvalds to a chair throwing match. What better place to do this than in a court of law? There's a lot of other things in a court room to throw, too. Personally, I think Ballmer is going to kick his ass.

There is always an alternative

[Recovering Hater]

If linux is killed there is always BSD... Oh wait- isn't it dead already? :P

Double click?

[DrFrob]

I seem to recall playing around with an Apple IIe program when I was a kid that taught you how to use a mouse. I swear there was some double-clicking involved.

Re:much ado about nothing

[Anonymous Coward]

Penguins don't fly they swim...

Patents

[Randall311]

Ballmer: What do you mean we can't patent the word "Start"?!! *picks up chair and launches across the room*

Re:Can't disagree with Balmer here

[Syberghost]

Balmer really doesn't have a say in this matter he has to act.

He could quit and donate a billion dollars to Ubuntu.

Re:Microsoft is flailing

[grovmalet]

I just wish Microsoft would stop with this behavior and actually work on their core products.

But they are focusing on what they do best...

Top Men

[tmlrv]

Ballmer said: 'Well, I think there are experts who claim Linux violates our intellectual property.

Interviewer: Who are these experts?

Ballmer: Top men.

Interviewer: Like who?

Ballmer: Top men.

Interviewer: Can you give me a name?

Ballmer: Top. Men.

Re:Double click?

[russotto]

I seem to recall playing around with an Apple IIe program when I was a kid that taught you how to use a mouse. I swear there was some double-clicking involved.

But Microsoft's patents are different. They only apply to a limited-resource computing device. An Apple IIe with 64K of main memory, 64K of auxiliary memory, and 32K of ROM just doesn't fit the bill... err, wait a minute...

Re:Open Invention Network may counter

[deadlinegrunt]

"I suspect that the Open Invention Network was set up to defend against this very possibility. If Microsoft makes a move the alliance will use their patents to counter. Which the companies involved have a pretty comprehensive portfolio."

This sounds like a Star Wars plot only better. Too bad you can't have voice over sound effects of snythetic breathing and symphonic music of the Imperial march theme.

Darth SourceSafe: "The IP is strong in this one"
Ob1_compile to
Luke SyntaxWalker: "Luke, use the source"

I need more sleep...

Re:Microsoft is flailing

[WebCowboy]

Windows Server 2003 was released in 2001?

Windows Server 2003 was a MAJOR revision?