Open Source Company Stands Up to Microsoft

Following in the footsteps of other Linux distributors, Mandriva is publicly rejecting Microsoft's advances for a patent protection deal.

In the past, Microsoft has signed agreements with Linux firms like Novell, Xandros, and Linspire. The Windows developer claims that open-source applications violate many of its patents. However, with these treaties, Microsoft promises (in writing) not to sue the companies for patent infringement.

Wait a sec...who's Mandriva?

Mandriva is an open source company associated with Linux. Its headquarters are in Paris, where it acts as a founding member of the Desktop Linux Consortium.

Despite recent rumors, Mandriva is opposed to making a deal with Microsoft. According to Mandriva's chief executive, "Interoperability between the Windows and Linux world is important and must be dealt with, and anything that helps this interoperability is a good thing. The best way to deal with interoperability is open standards." (Source: zdnet.com)

In the eyes of Mandriva, paying protection money to Microsoft, or any other company for that matter, is unnecessary. "A promise by Microsoft not to sue for infringement of unspecified patents has no value at all and is not worth paying for...people who pay protection money for that promise are likely living in a false sense of security." (Source: news.com)

Clearly, Mandriva is not in favour of software patents, and is distrustful of the current patent system. The company also feels that there is no valid evidence to prove that Linux and the open-source are in breach of any patents.