Red Hat and Novell being Sued for Patent Infringement

[Jimmy 2004]

Little known company IP Innovation is attempting to sue both Red Hat and Novell for patent infringement involving Linux. According to the firm, both Red Hat and Novell’s Linux distributions violate patent number 5,072,412 for a “User Interface with Multiple Workspaces for Sharing Display System Objects” – a patent dating back to December 10th 1991 – as well as two other patents. The orginal statement is as follows:

Red Hat's and Novell's infringement, contributory infringement and inducement to infringe has injured plaintiffs and plaintiffs are entitled to recover damages adequate to compensate them for such infringement but in no event less than a reasonable royalty.

This is the first ever patent infringement litigation involving Linux.

Source: Groklaw via [H]ard|OCP

[ManofGod]

Notice they do not go after those distributions that do not make money. This is all about money and nothing else, or as they want, "Money for Nothing!" Legitimate patent infringements get pushed away over this garbage.

Joe

Oh wait, I thought of putting a piece of glass in a whole a long time ago, I think I will sue the window manufacturers.

[mdm-adph]

Wow -- and just two days after Steve Baldmer threatened Red Hat, too. Imagine that.

Can anyone say "litigation by proxy?"

[whitesound]

Seems they need to go back and SUE Bell Labs...

They win the Internets

New Idiots born everyday

[ChaoticBlankness]

To quote South Park, "Weak..".

With any luck the those IP trolls will loose the case.

[jocksteeluk]

some if these stupid ass patents are as smart as awarding the patent to an individual for putting circular wheels on cars, i am surprised the idiotic people at the US patent office havent allowed an individual the right to patent breathing by humans.

[mdm-adph]

Originally Posted by jocksteeluk

some if these stupid ass patents are as smart as awarding the patent to an individual for putting circular wheels on cars, i am surprised the idiotic people at the US patent office havent allowed an individual the right to patent breathing by humans.

Well, that would just be... silly. Everyone knows you can only patent a method (such as how to breathe) if it's electronic.

I'll be gone for a little while -- I'm going to go patent the "Submit Reply" button and make a million bucks off TPU.

wait, I'm not sure if there was sarcasm in that or not... does someone have the patent to wheels? I know Gene Simmons has the copyrights to the word "OJ" but the wheel?

[panchoman]

Originally Posted by jocksteeluk

some if these stupid ass patents are as smart as awarding the patent to an individual for putting circular wheels on cars, i am surprised the idiotic people at the US patent office havent allowed an individual the right to patent breathing by humans.

agreed. and why they dont sue ubuntu? its got multiple workstations... but nooooooo sue the companies that have the money.

[WarEagleAU]

I noticed that too. I also dont see Linux going and stealing copyrighted interfaces without payin g for them. I bet this is all a farce just to make some kind of money. I also highly doubt that company came up with that, because I believe MS did something like that before that time period.