Comment: What is Microsoft's new position on Linux?

 

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By Matt Whipp

Posted on 17 Nov 2006 at 17:55

Indeed Red Hat has taken every opportunity to show absolutely no enthusiasm for Ballmer's offer, describing the patent covenant not to sue each others' customers as 'an innovation tax'. Referring to the technical collaboration it says: 'Open standards create interoperability everyone can implement. That's the real solution. It doesn't require a deal between two companies.'

Mark Webbink, Red Hat General Counsel, said: 'Red Hat has and will continue to work with Microsoft on true interoperability and open standards in the way we did in advising them in the development of their Open Specification Promise. At the same time, we do not believe there is a need for or basis for the type of relationship defined in the Microsoft-Novell announcement.'

People talk about this deal as if it's Microsoft meets Linux. It's not. It's all about Novell.