De Icaza Regrets Novell/Microsoft Pact

Ian Lamont writes "Novell Vice President and GNOME architect Miguel de Icaza sounded off at a MIX 08 panel on a number of topics. First, he claimed that he was 'not happy' with Novell's cross-patent licensing agreement with Microsoft, saying that if he had his way, the company would have stayed with the open-source community. He also said that neither Windows nor Linux are relevant in the long term, thanks to Web 2.0 business models: 'They might be fantastic products ... but Google has shown itself to be a cash cow. There is a feature beyond selling corporate [software] and patents ... it's going to be owning end users.' He also tangled with Mike Schroepfer, a Mozilla engineering executive, about extending patent protection for Moonlight to third parties. However, de Icaza did say that Novell has 'done the best it could to balance open-source interests with patent indemnification.' We discussed the beginnings of the deal between Microsoft and Novell back in 2006."

Ah. I see.

[morgan_greywolf]

Oh, well, that just makes it all better now, doesn't it? Miguel says he's sorry, guys. Will you forgive him?

Miguel

[z80kid]

.. who?

Re:Ah. I see.

[harry666t]

Yeah, sure

Re:Web 2.0 eh?

[mhall119]

So it all finally comes back to Java then?

Owned?

[snl2587]

... it's going to be owning end users.

Just as long as they don't whip me and make me pick cotton...

Re:Ah. I see.

[moderatorrater]

Let he who has never used proprietary software cast the first stone.

Re:Ah. I see.

[Applekid]

Forgiveness? Pfft. In this day in age, you know how long it took for me to find this pitchfork?

Next time, *I* get the torch.

Career paths

[Just Some Guy]

I will assume that Microsoft told Miguel once and for all that they weren't going to hire him, so he decided to quit sucking up to them.

Re:Web 2.0 eh?

[Anonymous Coward]

Its virtual servers all the way down...

Re:Web 2.0 eh?

[jez9999]

But I still fail to see how Web 2.0 will make an operating system irrelevant. The browser has to run on something.

No, it's web browsers all the way down.

Re:The crossroads

[dhasenan]

Hey, C#'s pretty good, too.

Re:Not slashdottish

[morgan_greywolf]

This isn't about someone who's neutral to the whole Microsoft/Linux thing

That's okay, neither is he.

Re:Ah. I see. Ahhhh, will those stones be

[davidsyes]

Whetstones? Drystones? Gelatenous Cajones stones? Can these stones break windows?

Re:The crossroads

[Marcos Eliziario]

Although an unusual tone for a blues song.

Re:The crossroads

[cyber-vandal]

How can something which doesn't exist be ironic?

Lando Calrissian . . .

[matt_hs]

. . . regretted his deal with the Empire too . . .

Beer Goggles

[Ilan Volow]

Taken from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_goggles [wikipedia.org]

"Beer goggles is a slang term for a phenomenon in which consumption of alcohol lowers sexual inhibitions to the point that very little or no discretion is used when approaching or choosing sexual partners.[citation needed] The term is often humorously applied when an individual is observed making advances towards, later regretting sexual contact with, a partner that is deemed unattractive, unacceptably scandalous, or repulsive when the prospect of sex is considered while sober. The "beer goggles" are considered to have distorted the "wearer's" vision, making unattractive people appear beautiful, or at least passably attractive. Beer goggles are also known as "Stellavision", "Beerglasses" and "The Cider Visor"

Modified slightly

"Patent Indemnification is a term for a phenomenon in which promise of immunity from lawsuit lowers corporate inhibitions to the point that very little or no discretion is used when approaching or choosing corporate partners.The term is often applied when a corporation is observed making advances towards, later regretting contact with, a partner that is deemed unattractive, unacceptably scandalous, or repulsive when the prospect of partnership is considered while sober. Patent indemnification is considered to have distorted the company's vision, making unattractive corporation appear beautiful, or at least passably attractive."

It really sounds like he's regretting a one-night stand.