Rhett's Dad - Slashdot User

Submission + - Microsoft, Novell reach agreement on Linux

Submitted by theMinorcan on Friday November 03, 2006 @01:08PM

theMinorcan writes: According to Reuters, Microsoft and Novell have entered into an agreement on Thursday (its second major partnership with an open-source software company this week) to allow open-source Linux software to work with Windows:
'After years of trying to crush open-source rivals, Microsoft said it will provide support and technology to allow Linux to work on Windows. At the same time, it agreed not to assert patent claims against customers of Suse Linux, Novell's operating system.'

Submission + - Microsoft to Promote Linux: The Details

Submitted by daria42 on Friday November 03, 2006 @01:08PM

daria42 writes: BetaNews has an in-depth piece analyzing the surprise partnership between Microsoft and Novell. From the article: 'Legally, what Novell and Microsoft accomplished on Thursday is achieve what many legal scholars have thought impossible, due to the oil-and-water differences between open source and proprietary software. The two companies' goal was to encourage customers to channel a virtualization path that leads through both Novell and Microsoft, with the enticement of escaping the threat of intellectual property litigation. But while Microsoft can indisputably speak for Windows, Novell cannot speak for Linux.' Also of note: 'there either are or will be provisions that may entitle Microsoft to royalties from components that are added to SUSE Linux in the future, and not necessarily from Novell.'

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