Whitepaper:
Overcoming the Minefield of Linux Patents
Jul 16, 2008
The biggest problem with getting stuff for free is that you are likely to be irritating some company wanting to charge for the service. That is exactly the relationship between Linux and Microsoft. Despite being one of the most successful and profitable companies on the planet, it seems that Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer is losing sleep over all the cash that the evil free software community is diverting from his firm.
Ballmer asserts that Linux developments have infringed nearly 250 Microsoft patents and he hints that to some extent free software developers are standing on the shoulders of Microsoft developers. Microsoft is not the only bear in the room for the Linux community as there are a number of other patent-based issues that Linux faces. However, Linux survives thanks to some innovative options and a delicate balance.
In this white paper we will review the problems and solutions to Linux’s seemingly age-old patent issues.
A Linux live distro may be just what you need to recover a Windows computer brought down by a system problem or virus attack. Knoppix creator Klaus Knopper gives you some tips for accessing NTFS from live Linux.
The second Alpha version of Ubuntu 8.10 (codename "Intrepid Ibex") has just been released. It includes new and in part unstable Debian packages along with the latest versions of various applications.
The Novell sponsored Opensuse project has released version 1.0 of its build service in a step that will make working on software packages for the distribution much easier for external developers.
Klaus Knopper is the creator of Knoppix and co-founder of the LinuxTag expo. He currently works as a teacher, programmer, and consultant. If you have a configuration problem, or if you just want to learn more about how Linux works, send your questions to: klaus@linux-magazine. com
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