(More on...) Microsoft Rivals to Purchase 22 Patents to Defend Linux

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"Microsoft usually strikes patent deals with companies before bringing cases to court, but a case earlier this year against GPS navigation device vendor TomTom, which uses Linux in its devices, was a notable exception.

"TomTom eventually agreed to pay Microsoft to settle the case, which Microsoft insisted was a mere patent disagreement rather than an attack against Linux.

"Not all Linux and open-source proponents felt the same way about it, however, though most open-source companies -- which are much smaller players than Microsoft -- would rather pay the proprietary software company to protect themselves against litigation than try to fight its deep pockets in court."

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