Microsoft's Perspective

Posted Mar 3, 2009 11:37 UTC (Tue) by man_ls (guest, #15091)
In reply to: Microsoft's Perspective by kripkenstein
Parent article: Third time is the charm?

There is a point that I would have liked to see in the article, and which relates to your post. It can be summarized by the following questions. Is Microsoft risking a countersuit by OIN at all? Is TomTom a member of OIN, or can it become one? Is there a generic provision for software covered by OIN, even if it is used by non-members? I'm thinking something like SCO frightening Red Hat users, and Red Hat retaliating with a suit. Can there be something like that for generic Linux kernel developers / distributors / users, but from OIN? Are there other similar organizations which could enter the picture to help TomTom defend against these stupid patents?

I gather the question to all of them is 'no', but there probably should be something along these lines. Otherwise thousands of companies are open to stupid lawsuits from patent-bullies (of which Microsoft has definitely become one).