Steve Ballmer speaking at Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) conference in Seattle yesterday mentioned that Linux users Intellectual Property for Linux and he sees it as a revenue loss or inhibitor for Microsoft. That was one of the reason they signed a deal with Novell, he said. Steve Ballmer was responding to a question in the question and answer session after his keynote speech at the PASS conference.

Quote Steve Ballmer::

    "We've had an issue, a problem that we've had to confront, which is because of the way the GPL
(General Public License) works, and because open-source Linux does not come from a company -- Linux comes
from the community -- the fact that that product uses our patented intellectual property is a problem
for our shareholders. We spend $7 billion a year on R&D, our shareholders expect us to protect or license
or get economic benefit from our patented innovations. So how do we somehow get the appropriate economic
return for our patented innovation, and how do we do interoperability. The truth is, because of the complex
licensing around the GPL, we actually didn't want to do one without the other."

I agree completely with Steve. Linux users and the community owes Microsoft tremendously. If it had not been for Microsoft we would never have known how NOT to build an operating system. Had it not been for Microsoft, we would never have realised how bad software looks. Had it not been for Microsoft, we would never have known how to secure our systems. So many things to be grateful for. I can't thank Microsoft enough.

If Microsoft seriously thinks that their claims have merit, then why not file a lawsuit, like SCO did? SCO did it even when they did not have anything to substantiate their claims. And since Microsoft is making these claims in public forums, I would rather that they come up with some solid proof pretty soon or withdraw their claims and issue a public apology to the open source community. As far as I think, Microsoft is trying to justify its deal with Novell by making such absurd claims which is seen by some industry analysts as Microsoft selling out on Linux.

Redhat has already declared victory.