[Golden Eagle]

In commercial arenas Bill Gates is not used to having for his own private playground, that's what's technically called "competition". And it's supposed to be one of the good things about capitalism.

I'm all for fair and legal competition, but when you're trampling on ~300 patents in the Linux kernel alone, you're not competing fairly.

[ShadowAce]

I'm all for fair and legal competition, but when you're trampling on ~300 patents in the Linux kernel alone, you're not competing fairly.

Agreed. Let's see some proof, though.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Maybe you got overhasty in your assertions there, but the actual figure is 283 that MAY be trampled on. This is an assessment done by an insurance company which wants to sell patent insurance for $150,000/yr.

Now, not to be quibbling or anything, but do you really think that an insurance company is in the business to lose money? It looks as if the insurance company is looking to make some serious money and that they don't really expect to pay out a penny.

Remember the old saw: "follow the money." This has FUD written all over it so that the insurance premiums can be hiked up royally. If they had said that 10 or even 20 patents were infringed, it would be far more logical. But 283? They must be counting everything in the Kernel...