Freespire, Linspire and Microsoft Patents | Linux Today

Freespire, Linspire and Microsoft Patents

Written By
SJV
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Jul 22, 2007

“Indeed, if you read Microsoft’s memo, you’ll find that
Microsoft’s patent protection only applies only to ‘Linspire Five-0
and successor offerings’ on a desktop. Server use is specifically
forbidden. Microsoft won’t cover any software added to Linspire via
the CNR (Click and Run) system. Besides ruling out any patent
coverage for software covered by the GPLv3, Microsoft also
categorically rules out ‘Freespire and any other software offerings
that include the Linux operating system for which Linspire receives
no revenue.’

“Linspire 6.0, the ‘successor offering’ to Linspire Five-0,
according to a letter to users from Linspire CEO Kevin Carmony is
‘based off of Freespire 2.0,’ with some modifications ‘specifically
for our OEM and Retail Channel partners…'”

Complete
Story

SJV

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

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