A timeline of Microsofts tough talk on patents, open source and free software from those on both sides of the fight.
2Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – Feb. 1976
One thing you do is prevent good software from being written. Who can afford to do professional work for nothing? What hobbyist can put three man-years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute for free? The fact is
3Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – May 1991
If people had understood how patents would be granted when most of todays ideas were invented, and had taken out patents, the industry would be at a complete standstill today. I feel certain that some large company will patent some obvious thing r
4Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – April 2004
One thing they will do with their patent portfolio is enforce it against open-source software… Not to get money, because we dont have any; but they will attempt to block our implementations.’
Bruce Perens, co-founder of the Open Source Init
5Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – April 2004
It was impossible to create a technical collaboration framework without having some framework in which both companies could be assured that theyve got the right protections looking back and forward with respect to each others intellectual propert
6Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – July 2004
Over the next year, Microsoft will file for more than 3,000 patents — up very dramatically — and make us one of the top companies in the world in terms of innovative activities.’
Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and founder, July 2004
7Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – Nov. 2004
Software patents are dangerous to the economy at large, and particularly to the European economy.
Linus Torvalds, Michael Widenius and Rasmus Lerdorf to the EU, Nov. 2004
8Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – Nov. 2004
We recommend to all governments that they not get emotionally involved in preferring either software that comes from commercial companies or open-source software.’
Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, Nov. 2004
9Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – Dec. 2004
Microsoft provides uncapped IP [intellectual property] indemnification of their products.
Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, in a December, 2004 e-mail to customers describing how Windows is cheaper and more secure than Linux.
10Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – July 2005
There were only two paths forward that made sense for not only us but for all European inventors: that there be a good, uniform patent regime put in place across Europe or that there be no resolution at all… I think the position the Parliament to
11Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – Nov. 2006
If a customer says, Look, do we have liability for the use of your patented work? Essentially, if youre using non-SUSE Linux, then Id say the answer is yes.
Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, Nov. 2006
12Tough Talk: Microsofts Patent Path in Words – Nov. 2006
The Microsoft-Novell deal is built on respect for the innovations of each company and the open-source community, and a passion for what we can deliver for our customers together.
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