[Patents] Microsoft Executive Says Linux Threatens Innovation

[Florent Garcia fgarcia@atmel.fr]

In case you missed this article.

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Microsoft Executive Says Linux Threatens Innovation (Update1) 02/14/01 04:57 
PM
Source: Bloomberg News URL:
http://www.cnetinvestor.com/investor/news/newsitem/0-9900-1028-4825719-0.html

Redmond, Washington, Feb. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp.'s Windows
operating-system chief, Jim Allchin, says that freely distributed software 
code
such as rival Linux could stifle innovation and that legislators need to
understand the threat.

The result will be the demise of both intellectual property rights and the
incentive to spend on research and development, he said yesterday, after the
company previewed its latest version of Windows. Microsoft has told U.S.
lawmakers of its concern while discussing protection of intellectual property
rights.

Linux is developed in a so-called open-source environment in which the 
software
code generally isn't owned by any one company. That, as well as programs such
as music-sharing software from Napster Inc., means the world's largest 
software
maker has to do a better job of talking to policymakers, he said.

''Open source is an intellectual-property destroyer,'' Allchin said. ''I can't
imagine something that could be worse than this for the software business and
the intellectual-property business.''

Microsoft distributes some of its programs without charge to customers,
although it generally doesn't release its programming code, and it retains the
ownership rights to that code. Linux is the most widely known open-source
product, though other programs including the popular Apache system for Web
server computers also are developed the same way.

Corel Inquiry

Allchin made his comments several hours before Microsoft confirmed that its
$135 million investment in software maker Corel Corp. last October is being
reviewed by the U.S. Justice Department. Corel said last month it willl drop
efforts to develop the Linux operating system, though it will continue to make
Linux applications. Corel said it hadn't consulted with Microsoft before 
making
that decision.

Brian Behlendorf, founder of open-source company CollabNet Inc., said most
companies that use the open-source development model do retain the rights to
some of their intellectual property.

''I think Microsoft is trying to paint the open-source community as being
fascist; that all software have has to be free, or none of it can be,'' said
Behlendorf, whose company helps businesses run their own open-source projects.

Allchin said he's concerned that the open-source business model could stifle
initiative in the computer industry.

''I'm an American, I believe in the American Way,'' he said. ''I worry if the
government encourages open source, and I don't think we've done enough
education of policy makers to understand the threat.''

Linux Adoption

Some leading computer companies including International Business Machines 
Corp.
and Hewlett-Packard Co. are selling Linux- based products and working on
open-source projects, noted Jeremy Allison, a VA Linux Systems Inc.  software
developer. He's also a leader in a project develop an open-source file and
printer server program.

Microsoft only began significant lobbying efforts in the last few years. The
Redmond, Washington-based company also talks to lawmakers about issues
including the need for more visas for people with computer skills and computer
privacy and security.

Linux is the fastest-growing operating system program for running server
computers, according to research firm IDC. It accounted for 27 percent of unit
shipments of server operating systems in 2000. Microsoft's Windows was the 
most
popular on that basis, with 41 percent.

Despite Linux's success in some markets, Allchin says he isn't concerned about
sales competition from the product. Microsoft provides support to change and
develop products based on its operating system software that Linux companies
don't, he said. Companies that use Linux in their products then must pay
someone else for support, he said.

''We can build a better product than Linux,'' he said. ''There is always
something enamoring about thinking you can get something for free.''