“Microsoft Corp. has suggested in recent years that companies
using the Linux computer-operating system might be violating
Microsoft patents. Now, in an effort to avert any legal threat that
might discourage the adoption of Linux, a group of Microsoft rivals
is about to acquire a set of patents formerly owned by the software
giant.“The group, which includes major corporate supporters of such
open-source software — including International Business Machines
Corp., Red Hat Inc. and Sony Corp. — said it is nearing an
agreement to acquire 22 patents that Microsoft sold to another
organization earlier this year. Though the issue hasn’t been tested
in court, the patents may relate to Linux.”
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