[typoon]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/biztech...eut/index.html

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- Microsoft Corp. warned Asian governments on Thursday they could face patent lawsuits for using the Linux operating system instead of its Windows software.

The growing popularity of Linux -- an open-code software that is freely available on the Internet and easily modified by users -- is a threat to the global dominance of Microsoft's Windows.

Linux violates more than 228 patents, according to a recent report from a research group, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said at the company's Asian Government Leaders Forum in Singapore.

"Someday, for all countries that are entering the WTO (World Trade Organization), somebody will come and look for money owing to the rights for that intellectual property," he added.

The Open Source Risk Management Group said earlier this year that potential intellectual property claims against Linux could expose users to unexpected claims that might result in lawsuits.

Software developer SCO Group Inc., which claims that Linux is based on its Unix software, is suing companies including International Business Machines Corp..

Singapore's Ministry of Defense last month switched 20,000 personal computers to run on open-source software instead of the Microsoft operating platform.

Other governments in the region are also looking to use more open-source software. China, Japan and South Korea this year agreed to jointly develop applications running on Linux.

At a conference in Milan later on Thursday, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates avoided a direct answer when asked whether he was worried about competition from Linux.

"In the market where Microsoft is, there's a lot of competition," he said. "We compete with Unix and we're doing very well because the Windows (market) share has increased every year. It's out there; it's something we compete against."

The Chinese government, in particular, sees its reliance on Microsoft as a potential threat. Conspiracy buffs believe certain patches in the Windows code might give U.S. authorities the power to access Chinese networks and disable them, possibly during a war over Taiwan.

Ballmer said the security fears some governments had about using Microsoft software were overblown.

"We think our software is far more secure than open-source software. It is more secure because we stand behind it, we fixed it, because we built it. Nobody ever knows who built open-source software," he added.

I just love that last quote.

[MilkmanDan]

Maybe these countries should sue Microsoft for being a Monopoly and using it to crush other companies. Japanese Police raided the MS office in Tokyo a few months ago. If I remember correctly the forces of east asia are making their own version of Linux. Japan, China, and South Korea. Wouldn't that be something, all those governments using Linux.

[hayesk]

Originally posted by typoon:

Ballmer said the security fears some governments had about using Microsoft software were overblown.

Yeah, almost as overblown as the "patent violations" in Linux.

"We think our software is far more secure than open-source software. It is more secure because we stand behind it, we fixed it, because we built it. Nobody ever knows who built open-source software," he added.

I just love that last quote.

That's priceless. Nobody may ever know, but at least you can read and understand it.

[olePigeon]

Originally posted by hayesk:
Yeah, almost as overblown as the "patent violations" in Linux.


That's priceless. Nobody may ever know, but at least you can read and understand it.

Hi, I'm a big, important Asian corporation. We want to run a server that just handles our local inventory, but it has important, critical, and sensitive data as well. Can I get Windows without Internet Explorer integra - ... oh, I can't? What about Windows Med - ... no, too, huh? Can I uninstall the ActiveX components so people can't compromise my computer remote - ... firewall, you say? Does that stop data from being lost if I visit a malicious websi - ... No?

You sold me back at the integrated internet browser! Where do I sign up?!

[typoon]

Originally posted by olePigeon:
Hi, I'm a big, important Asian corporation. We want to run a server that just handles our local inventory, but it has important, critical, and sensitive data as well. Can I get Windows without Internet Explorer integra - ... oh, I can't? What about Windows Med - ... no, too, huh? Can I uninstall the ActiveX components so people can't compromise my computer remote - ... firewall, you say? Does that stop data from being lost if I visit a malicious websi - ... No?

You sold me back at the integrated internet browser! Where do I sign up?!

Right here on the Dotted line...........................

[Mister Elf]

And I'm sure those Asian governments are going to pay up if held accountable...

[SimpleLife]

Go Linux!!!!

[itai195]

Originally posted by olePigeon:
Hi, I'm a big, important Asian corporation. We want to run a server that just handles our local inventory, but it has important, critical, and sensitive data as well. Can I get Windows without Internet Explorer integra - ... oh, I can't? What about Windows Med - ... no, too, huh? Can I uninstall the ActiveX components so people can't compromise my computer remote - ... firewall, you say? Does that stop data from being lost if I visit a malicious websi - ... No?

You sold me back at the integrated internet browser! Where do I sign up?!

Why would you visit any web site from a mission critical server?

[olePigeon]

Originally posted by itai195:
Why would you visit any web site from a mission critical server?

The client machines connected to the server might. Downloading malicious trojans, worms, and viruses that could cripple your network and destroy data.