News 

The deal follows Microsoft's recent claims that free and open-source software infringes 235 of its patents, which were largely dismissed by the open-source community.

The move represents something of a risk for Xandros, given the criticism that Novell faced for jumping into bed with Microsoft. However, the Linux vendor claims it's a good move for both

ADVERTISEMENT

companies. 'Companies today are running a mixture of Linux and Windows systems,' says Andreas Typaldos, Chief Executive Officer of Xandros. 'Cross-platform data centres are a reality. To meet evolving customer needs, vendors need to recognise the value of sharing intellectual property, developing more interoperable solutions and providing management tools that are familiar and easy to use.'

Microsoft is also keen to underline its intellectual property rights. 'We believe in and encourage respect for all licensing and development models, and intellectual property is an important component in this environment,' says Bill Hilf, General Manager of Platform Strategy at Microsoft. 'Our announcement with Xandros is an exciting step to deliver what our mutual customers have been asking for.'

Whether the five-year deal will now tempt other Linux vendors to strike similar agreements is questionable, but Microsoft says it remains keen to work with open-source providers.