Sun Microsystems: "innovate, not litigate"

[unixronin]

May 14: Microsoft wheels out the FUD, claiming open-source is infringing 235 Microsoft patents, but declines to specify which.  (Sound familiar?  *cough*cough*SCO*cough*))

May 15:  Sun Microsystems responds.

So what's my view on this interview in Fortune - in which one of Sun's business partners claims the open source community is trampling their patent portfolio?

You would be wise to listen to the customers you're threatening to sue - they can leave you, especially if you give them motivation.  Remember, they wouldn't be motivated unless your products were somehow missing the mark.

Comments

[arasirsul.livejournal.com]

I liked Linus Torvalds' comment on the subject, which basically boiled down to, "Funny how they won't bother telling us which ones, 'cause the FUD's worth more to them than a lawsuit."

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yup. I find Linus' viewpoint on the whole issue rather refreshing, particularly the observation that "if you develop [a technology] yourself independently without ever seeing the patent, it bolsters the argument that it was an obvious development."

[darthgeek.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I found that interesting too. "You're violating our patents, but, we won't tell you which ones!"

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

"After all, if we told you which patents we claim you're violating, you could PROVE we're blowing smoke out of our ass, instead of just suspecting it."