I just saw this...


>> http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/25/m...linux-based-g/

Sounds like Tom Tom stepped on MS's feet somewhere, so they're biting back. But this time with lawsuits since this is a company they can just get rid of with one good swipe. The thing is, if they're really in danger, the FSF and the Freedom Law Center will just step in and back up Tom Tom on this all the way. Just because MS decided to sue doesn't mean they've got a case. It just means for now that they see a threat in Tom Tom and a possible chance to rid themselves of a competitor.

Speaking of perceived threats to Microsoft
http://www.osnews.com/story/21035/Ba...tor_than_Apple

The Linux community is right to be very suspicion of Microsoft's motives.

For instance, what was the point of Microsoft's recent patent deal with Brother over Linux print drivers?
http://news.cnet.com/openroad/?keyword=Brother

More links here on the Tom Tom suit if anyone wants to follow up on detail

http://beranger.org/v3/wordpress/200...-more-patents/

He's an apple guy, so he spins this for Apple readers, but there's definitely a takeaway here for Nokia too:

Microsoft CEO Scoffs at Mac Share Gains

I think Apple's not the only one who's (going) there already... I really believe Maemo 5 will be the first real mobile OS that will effectively blur the phone / PC OS distinction completely...

i wonder how this comboes up with microsofts recent exfat launch, as fat has basically been the lingua franca of file systems. no other file system can claim to be equally readable, and, most importantly, writable, between OS's.

Nah, it's a Microsoft legal department tactict. Smack the biggest kid in the room upside the head and the other kids will be intimidated without you having to lift a finger.

BTW, IMX This usually means it's a bluff and the case has no merit. But as you mentioned, this legal bill adds to TomTom's cost of doing business and as a result, weakens the competition.

Ya know, a thought just struck me. Everyone's all grousing and freaking out about how Microsoft is gonna put the hammer down on Linux with this lawsuit. They're really not. Remember when Microsoft was threating Linux with their 200+ patents a few years back? Well, it was determined back then that Linux had nothing to fear, because the likes of IBM, the FSF, and others who have their own sizable patent portfolios and have a vested interested in protecting Linux would step in, and any legal jab that MS would make against Linux would be countered by these companies in a battle of mutually assured destruction.

MS won't ever go after Linux with patents, period. It's too dangerous. However, that doesn't stop them from wielding them for every FUD possibility imaginable, and Tom Tom is just one of those. This lawsuit they have will simply be used for more anti-Linux propaganda to try and scare other companies away from using Linux and (they hope) towards them. Or if not them, anybody who's *NOT* Linux.

tho, if tomtom gets slapped around, it sets up a precedence for slapping others around...

this is basically the same old alpha male posturing thats been going on for all of history and then some...

Please note this is all coming from Microsoft. TomTom has not responded to this yet in public!

Microsoft says they filed complaint at US ITC to make import of TomTom devices illegal.

According to Microsoft, Microsoft and TomTom have been around the table for more than a year to solve the patent dispute, to no avail.

TomTom is not huge corporation. They bought TeleAtlas, but filed their fiscal year 2008 3 days ago! which contained a 800M EUR loss because of the TeleAtlas buyout and a bad 2008Q4. investors.tomtom.com doesn't contain this information yet.

Here are the patents:

Patent 6175789 for installing a computer in a car
Patent 6202008 for installing a computer with wireless networking support in a car
Patent 6704032 for panning in a GUI
Patent 7054745 for giving driving directions
Patent 7117286 for recognizing when a portable computer is connected to anything

Trivial?

Because the patents seem trivial and 3 are about Linux kernel itself it is important we follow this case, and help TomTom where possible.

I bet Microsoft wants them to switch to Windows CE. Or wants to buy TomTom out. Or want to bully them as example to aid to the Linux FUD. But besides that the timing of the Microsoft press release is suspicious.

PS: Groklaw: Think Bilski