Ubuntu talks about Apple and Microsoft challenge

Q: So are you saying that if Microsoft finds a way it’s going to be hard for Linux stay as a free piece of software?

A: Microsoft is going to claim that deploying Linux anywhere, unless you pay Microsoft a patent fee, is a violation of their patent and they haven’t proved that yet. But they certainly seem to be positioning themselves in such a way that they could do so.

They are really trying to get something to legitimize their claim, so the deal with Novell had a lot of money attached to it. And as a part of that deal, Novell is lifted up in its stand to legitimize much of its claim. So it’s a very interesting strategic move and there are a lot of people on the other side saying that there are absolutely no intellectual property issues with Linux that this is kind of a game.