How does Microsoft assume it can sue for patent infringement with Linux Distros, Suse and Red Hat? Isn't this going a little over the top in insanity?
by 
Scubabob
ANSWERS: 3
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Insane or not Bob, if their lawyers think they can make a case, they go for it. At the very least, Microsoft will tie up the capital of the rival companies and cripple them with red tape for as long as they can. Nasty, but it happens. scubabob: The last time they took Novell on they lost big. How in hell do they think that an open source project is theirs for the taking? Joe-Speedy: Without being a party to their legal counsel, who can say? If they do it, they must have a reason.
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All that needs to happen for MS to sue for patent infringement is for an MS employee (or someone else) to sneak in some code into a project. It doesn't even have to be the kernel (though that would have the biggest impact) but it could be sneaked into KDE for example. The deal that MS made with Novell recently by the way, protects Novell from any possible liabilities (i.e. they can't be sued). If MS is prepared to take on a company in court, they can probably simply out last them moneywise. Assuming the other company isn't supported by others.
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For approximately the same reasons that Apple assumed it could sue Microsoft over Windows without catching any grief from Xerox. Remember, lawsuits don't HAVE to make sense ;)
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