[Patents] Microsoft Executive Says Linux Threatens Innovation

[Kristoff Bonne kristoff.bonne@compaqnet.be]

Greetings,

On Fri, 16 Feb 2001, Florent Garcia wrote:
> In case you missed this article.
> --------------------------------------------------------
> 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.
(...)

Today, I whished I was the writer in a 'tabloid newspaper':

"Microsoft doesn't know it anymore"
In a despirate attempt to try to hide it doesn't know how to deal with the
new competition of the current wave open-source software, a microsoft exec
tried to call on 'American Values' to rescue the sinking software company
...
(etc. etc.)

OK, this is a mailing-list concerning patents, and I guess 99 % of the
people here are pro "open source", so I will not start a discussion about
this.
(Just check out slashdot.org for that ;-))

So, 3 questions remain:
- Should there be a reply to this?
- Who should reply?
- What should be in?

As non-american, I'll leave question 3 to somebody know knows more about
the 'American values' then myself; so this leaves me with questions 1 and
2.

My suggestion:
As mr. Allchin is (IMHO) clearing intending to make a fool of himself; I
propose a very short, clear but well-thought answer; but somebody from a
'intellectual property rights' organisation; but -perfered- not the
obvious choice (like the FSF).

Just my 2 eurocents of thoughts!

Cheerio! Kr. Bonne.