open office and MS

[dragongodz]

ok its not video/audio related but since firefox can be discussed i thought i would also mention this news. :)

http://software.newsforge.com/software/04/09/15/213216.shtml?tid=138&tid=93&tid=147&tid=132
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,117793,tk,dn091604X,00.asp
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/190801_openoffice15.html

"Microsoft Corp.'s settlement with Sun Microsystems Inc. includes a provision explicitly preserving the Redmond company's right to sue licensees of a free alternative to its dominant Microsoft Office software."

[Sirber]

Cool!

I've been using OO for more than a year now. Great soft :D

[Neo Neko]

Originally posted by Sirber
Cool!

I've been using OO for more than a year now. Great soft :D

Cool? Did you read what it states? :p That as a user of openoffice for over a year that you are vulnerable to lawsuit, and that Microsoft might be interested in that? (This is rather old news over at slashdot. But then it's hard to say how many here read slashdot.) That is most definatly not cool. :eek: It would be an excercise in futility for Microsoft. But Microsoft gets so little excercise nowadays.

I am not sure how long I have used OO now. The last version of star office I bought was 5.2. I tested early beta versions of 6 but then stumbled across the OO project shortly after. And since then It has been OO all the way. Must be almost 3 years now.... Good thing to with all the shenanigans Sun has pulled recently not to mention getting in bed with MS.

Good news is as best I can see it is that if Microsoft did sue it would have a case weaker than SCO's ATM. Which means less than nothing cause that's all SCO's got.

[Doobie]

Microsoft could no doubt attack both Linux and Open Office with a number of patent infringement claims. But, Microsoft's legal troubles with its anti-competative behavior have protected Linux and OO.

The patent claims wouldn't be fatal. Many of them would be nonsense (e.g. Microsoft's proxy attack on Linux through SCO) and what claims have substance could be worked around. Still, it would be a huge setback for open-source software should MS ever feel free to go after open-source software full tilt.

[Neo Neko]

Originally posted by Doobie
Microsoft could no doubt attack both Linux and Open Office with a number of patent infringement claims. But, Microsoft's legal troubles with its anti-competative behavior have protected Linux and OO.

I like Mac and all. But I think by this point it is pretty undeniable that linux is easily the number 2 OS in the world. (including desktop, server, cluster, and embeded installs) Microsoft will have to tread carefully in whatever they do. Too many cases involving fraudulent pattents or too many threats to major players and Microsoft will be under scrutiny quickly. Which is great and all. But there was hardly any risk of that in the first place. What Microsoft is likely planning to do are gestapo like RIAA tactics. You know. Come in and beat up all the little guys no one normally notices.

Originally posted by Doobie
The patent claims wouldn't be fatal. Many of them would be nonsense (e.g. Microsoft's proxy attack on Linux through SCO) and what claims have substance could be worked around.

All it takes is the threat. Whether or not it is nonsense is immaterial. Many opensource developers can't even afford to go to court to show Microsoft as the fools they would be. Whereas Microsoft OTOH has finally worn of the novelty of using jeffersons from their stockpile to heat their offices in the winter. Perhaps it would be novel they think to do something directly beneficial to the company with their blood money. Like frivolous law suits! Think embrace and extend though. SCO's frivolity will be tame in comparrison. Think bumbling and inept versus malevolent and calculating. And unlike SCO's prey as usual Microsoft's will have almost no way to defend themselves. Microsoft likes picking on people smaller than themselves. It's a career maker.

Originally posted by Doobie
Still, it would be a huge setback for open-source software should MS ever feel free to go after open-source software full tilt.

Yes. One can only hope that "when" the time comes there will be someone there to defend the little guy.

[dragongodz]

a couple of points about it aswell.

users of Sun's commercial distribution of Open Office, called StarOffice, are protected from legal liabilities under the agreement
Sun covers its own arse(and the users who bought their version) you notice. :)

Microsoft can seek damages from Open Office users or distributors for any copy of Open Office installed after April 1, 2004
so if you installed before then and dont update you should be fine. reformat/reinstall your system though and thats a different story.

so basically microsoft dont want new users for OO or older users upgrading or reinstalling. trying to kill it by the slow death of F.U.D. ?

[Sirber]

Originally posted by Neo Neko
Cool? Did you read what it states? :p That as a user of openoffice for over a year that you are vulnerable to lawsuit, and that Microsoft might be interested in that? (This is rather old news over at slashdot. But then it's hard to say how many here read slashdot.) That is most definatly not cool. :eek: It would be an excercise in futility for Microsoft. But Microsoft gets so little excercise nowadays.

I am not sure how long I have used OO now. The last version of star office I bought was 5.2. I tested early beta versions of 6 but then stumbled across the OO project shortly after. And since then It has been OO all the way. Must be almost 3 years now.... Good thing to with all the shenanigans Sun has pulled recently not to mention getting in bed with MS.

Good news is as best I can see it is that if Microsoft did sue it would have a case weaker than SCO's ATM. Which means less than nothing cause that's all SCO's got. M$ can sue me coz I use OO? Will they sue me also coz I use winamp and not WMP? :o