Beating the TomTom: Drums of War? (Not)

Posted by Andy_Updegrove on Feb 26, 2009 3:01 PM EDT
ConsortiumInfo.org Standards Blog; By Andy Updegrove 		Mail this story
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I first learned of Microsoft bringing suit against in-car navigation company TomTom NV when I got an email from a journalist asking for comment. Why all the buzz? Because apparently several of the patent claims relate to TomTom's implementation of the Linux kernel - and while Microsoft has made noises publicly and threats privately for years alleging that Linux infringes multiple Microsoft patents, it has never actually brought a suit against a Linux implementer specifically alleging infringement by the Linux portion of their product. The result is that across the industry, everyone is asking the same question: What Does it All Mean? For what it's worth, here's my take. (hint: Don't Panic)

What I really think is going on is this:

1.  A new guy at the wheel (Horacio Gutierrez, promoted just a week ago to the top licensing spot), letting the marketplace know that they better not take him for granted.

2.  The ongoing internal divisions within Microsoft between the proprietary old guard and the more enlightened new guys (including Ozzie) that either "get" open source software, or at least understand that Microsoft's customers do.  With layoffs, a bad quarter, and the specter of further losses to Linux-based netbooks and mobile devices clouding the view ahead, perhaps it was politically expedient to throw the old guard a bone.

3.  A desire to beef up the credibility of the licensing folks that will be knocking on the doors of the smaller mobile device and netbook vendors in the months ahead. This news is, I believe, far more consistent with Microsoft's historical legal messaging than it is indicative of any significant change in its strategic direction regarding open source in general, or Linux in particular.

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