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● 06.04.07

●● Patents Deal Where There’s No Going Back (Updated)

Posted in Microsoft, Novell, Patent Covenant, Patents at 9:57 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Here’s a short news item that is truly a gem:

Timeline: Court rules Microsoft patent deal can’t be terminated

=> ↺ Timeline: Court rules Microsoft patent deal can’t be terminated

Timeline Inc. said a U.S court has ruled that the company’s patent agreement with Microsoft Corp. cannot be terminated, and that Timeline’s remedy for any alleged breaches would be to seek damages.

I can vividly recall Andrea Jaeger’s reply to our enquiry in the opensuse mailing list. He was saying that Novell’s deal with Microsoft was irrevocable. Who are the lawyers that took a look and studied the contract with Microsoft prior to signing? And what about Xandros? Did they employ any lawyers at all? In hindsight, GPLv3 probably renders the Xandros deal obsolete in most respects (much to Microsoft’s misfortune). Still, they try to get ‘ammunition’ for the courts (if the FSF ever ends up there).

=> ↺ if the FSF ever ends up there

Update: It gets worse. Have a look at this other new item:

=> ↺ new item

Patent creators say Microsoft lied to get better deal on DVR patents

Microsoft is facing a patent lawsuit over its failed Ultimate TV DVR system. The lawsuit, filed by joint venture company Intellivision (no relation to the Mattel console), accuses the company of making fraudulent and misleading claims in order to acquire intellectual property without having to make royalty payments.

The apple does not fall far from the tree. Saber rattling anyone?

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