Just like Germany, the inaction of the masses allowed Hitler to win his dictatorship.

So the same goes for M$.

I think this is a SAMBA related patent, because a NAS need to be visible from a MS computer.

i have created the most complicated letter B on the planet i should copy write that! and make it a brand name.it would be worth 10 lines of coding. may the higher being probably up there have mercy .

I did hear that it takes only one or is it two line of code to qualify for it to be copyrighted!?

That, is the most corrupt that I ever... So spewing code, even inoperable or non-functional from one OS to operable and function on another OS, would be legal?

Isn't there anti-squatters legislations out there, that could be applied?

So any new OS coming out could be easily squatted out of existence?

One could fool the copyright bureau by presenting squatters code, under the impression that even though it doesn't work now, its for a future project to be completed, at a later time!

A classic excuse to continue the argument, is, "The rapid pace of changing technologies"

I appreciate people saying the EC should fine Microsoft a hefty sum but this really is not good enough.

Extortion is a criminal offense, the act of engaging in an ongoing protection racket is a criminal offense. People convicted of extortion serve time in jail.

Microsoft must reveal in a court of law what it is that is valid under the law that they are being paid for. Otherwise, it is extortion and jail terms are in order.

This is why MS's Sam Ramji is having a hard time with the open source community.

All his pathetic BS attempts is exactly what it is! A MS facade in trying to be nice with open source!

The simple idea of exploiting GPL v2 with this "patent protection racket" is a clear indication of what's really going on.

Notice how the supposed patent infringement is NEVER mentioned in public? They know the power of having a POTENTIAL patent threat is enough to get companies to pay up and settle! (Like TomTom, another MS patent victim, they cannot withstand a prolong court battle in such economic times.)

...And some wonder why open source people dislike Microsoft!

Dear Ms. Neelie Kroes:

Please take note of this latest anticompetitive tactic by this corporate bully Microsoft, and multiply all fines (presently planned and future) against Microsoft by an order of magnitude (or two).

Please also use these funds to level the playing field, and encourage the use of open source software in governments, education, and by the public (who can ill afford paying Microsoft's extortionist pricing for their virus-plagued software).

Thanks so much,

One of millions of open-source users

Linux doesn't need its legal status sorting out. Its fine - it just annoys others who want to own it and they cant so they use software patents on things like the bleeding obvious to try and upset it.
Software patents need sorting out - only I've got the patent on sorting them out so it wont happen! Mwaaaah HaaHahHahHah!

Well linux needs to get it's legal status sorted out, as do software patents in general.

I'd place money that, while this is acceptable under the GPLv2, it violates the GPLv3.

if you pay them enough protection money.
The new Mafia....