[diskussion] Microsoft sues TomTom over FAT patents

[Daniel Stenberg]

On Mon, 16 Mar 2009, Jonas Islander wrote:

>> "[,,,] Make no mistake, this is intended to force Tom Tom to violate the 
>> GPL, or change to Microsoft embedded software."
>
> That's interesting. Could you elaborate? How would Tom Tom be forced to 
> violate the GPL?

GPLv2 paragraph 7 forbids companies to do "secret patent payments" for 
software that are then distributed as GPLv2.

Alas: If they pay, they violate GPLv2. If they don't pay, MS strikes down on 
them.

According to said Mr Allison, the reason Microsoft sues now and not before 
(the VFAT patent is after all 11 years old!), is that all other companies have 
paid these secret fees to Microsoft. (according to a quote tributed to him on 
the wikipedia page for this). Personally I wonder how mr Allison can now about 
how all companies have done...

Groklaw, as always, is a fine reasource:

 	http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20090305203031867
-- 

  / daniel.haxx.se