Microsoft and Amazon Sign Kindle, Linux Deal
Microsoft and Amazon this week announced a cross-license patent agreement, which will give both companies access to each other's patent portfolios.
Microsoft said Monday that the agreement covers a broad range of products and technology. This includes coverage for Amazon’s Kindle, which employs both open source and Amazon’s proprietary software components, and Amazon’s use of Linux-based servers.
The move is part of Microsoft's IP licensing program launched seven years ago, in December 2003. The company has entered into more than 600 licensing agreements with companies such as Apple, HP, LG, Nikon, Novell, Samsung and Fuji.
"We are pleased to have entered into this patent license agreement with Amazon.com,” said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft. “Microsoft’s patent portfolio is the largest and strongest in the software industry, and this agreement demonstrates our mutual respect for intellectual property as well as our ability to reach pragmatic solutions to IP issues regardless of whether proprietary or open source software is involved."
Redmond did not disclose the financial details of the agreement but did say that Amazon would be paying Microsoft an 'undisclosed' amount of money under the agreement.
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Amazon, Noooo, you don't need to work with the convicted monopolist. All your stuff belong to us.
I really don't think Microsoft is the big mean monster that everyone thinks it is. Recently, Apple and Google seem like the villains, while good old Microsoft is the one watching out for us!
Glad to see some open patent sharing. I'm always up for spreading intelligence.
It could be just another move to generate addtional revenue.
This is a normal business deal. How can you say it is either good or bad from a moral standpoint?
"Microsoft’s patent portfolio is the largest and strongest in the software industry"
That's why MS is slowing down the innovation in the software industry. Patents are a thorn in the side of progress.
How is Microsoft watching out for us?? They are collecting money from Amazon, this helps us how exactly?
more like microhard is making sure all these companies use it's technology instead of creating alternatives, which gives microsoft a level of control over innovation in it's competitors
The biggest patent troll at work... Since when does micro$uxx "license" linux?
Jeannie, are you slowly transforming in a m$ parrot?
I really don't think Microsoft is the big mean monster that everyone thinks it is. Recently, Apple and Google seem like the villains, while good old Microsoft is the one watching out for us!Glad to see some open patent sharing. I'm always up for spreading intelligence.
Seems micro$uxx spread a lot on you...
Expect an Amazon Tablet Device with M$ software. Amazon will be hit hard on his Kindle product by the Apple's iPad (comparable price between most expensive Kindle and cheapest iPad, huge difference) so they are starting to look for allies...
Ossie, you are so blinded by MS hatred you obviously didn't understand.MS isn't licensing Linux.MS is licensing stuff for use on Amazon's Linux servers.But I suppose it doesn't matter either way as MS haters will complain if they keep their IP to themselves, complain if they license it, complain if they do charity work, cure cancer, stop all wars, end third world hunger and explore the galaxy.
I understand very well micro$uxx' monopolistic tactics. Don't sugar coat it with "stuff for use on linux servers".
Read Jeannie's "headline": "Microsoft and Amazon Sign Kindle, Linux deal". None of those has anything to do with a linux "deal", eventually just trying to undermine it (a la novell) (m$).
Just micro$uxx has the impertinence to cash in on linux, with their patent protection fee racket. Hence the "licencing" remark.
Any entity (including micro$uxx) is entitled to use foss code, if it respects the licensing conditions (gpl and co.). Usually micro$uxx just "borrows", without respecting them - the late windblow$ flash/dvd installer utility debacle is representative - but cries loudly bloody murder, if it has the slightest impression that anyone is "infringing" on their SW patent stash.
Keep the rest of your blind m$/billy boy love blurb for yourself, or the wintarded micro$uxx fankiddie herd.
Basically, for those of you that don't understand what this is about:
Microsoft claims that Linux infringes on their patents, and yet never sues them over it. They just threaten to sue companies that support Linux(Novell, now Amazon), who in turn, pay Microsoft not to sue them. GNU has begged MS to sue them, under the premise that the courts will invalidate MS's patents.
Basically, every non-Windoze operating system in the world violates Microsoft's intellectual property. Software patents FTW.....
This is a gang/mob kind of deal. It's easy to be done, serves the M$ intent to spread FUD over the FLOSS, and it opens the way for more of the like, including the Novell type deals.
M$ fears competition from Linux and Open Source Software in general, for good reasons.
Lets suppose that every time that M$ negotiates a grant / cross licensing agreement with other big monopoly, in case they use Linux servers, the M$ guys tell them: ok friends, now we are prepared to give you a big discount on this deal, but you must authorize us to issue a press release that mention that our present deal also covers your usage of Linux servers. If you accept, lets just draft the related non disclosure agreement.
What do you people think the other party would say?
If this is not what happened, so who can explain the reason why there are so many companies that use Linux and M$ did not went over them?
Of course its because they never went to M$ (yet) asking for any kind of patent deal.
Now, the good question is: how to stop this dirty scheme ?