According to a survey published in August 2, a total of 283 registered software patents can be used as the basis for patent litigation against the Linux kernel, of which 27 are owned by Microsoft.
This investigation was funded by open sourceriskmanagement (osrm), executive director of the public patent Foundation and Senior Legal Counsel for freesoftwarefoundation, which provided insurance for legal proceedings relating to the use of open source products
Led by patent attorney Dan ravicher.
"There is a huge risk of patent litigation against Linux," said ravicher ." He added that his findings should not be surprising considering the wide range of Linux projects. "Our conclusion is not that Linux is doomed, but the situation is terrible ."
Jeffreynorman, a software attorney at Chicago's Kirkland & Ellis company, said Microsoft could not file such a lawsuit despite "inevitable" patent litigation related to some open source software. "Microsoft has some public relations issues ."
(Reposted by Computer World Network)