Posted on 04/01/2016 4:18:56 AM PDT by markomalley
IN an unprecedented effort to appease the GNU/Linux community, having launched a campaign of intimidation and coercion in 2006 (continues to date), Microsofts CEO Satya Nadella issued a public apology, posted in Microsofts official blog on Wednesday night. The apology did not name specific companies, but it did address Red Hat, Canonical and various device makers, primarily east Asian ones.
Nadella stated in his latest blog: Having come to this company and having witnessed its aggressive campaign of patent abuse against small companies, I have vetoed Bill Gates, decided to fire Horacio Gutierrez, and my colleagues shall reveal the secret deals that we have signed over the past decade, including Novells.
Nadella, closing his controversial blog post, noted that Brad Smith, a key architect of the old strategy, has resigned in protest. Attempts to reach Smith for comments have so far been unsuccessful.
In order to demonstrate Microsofts commitment to GNU/Linux and its continued growth, Nadella told us, I have decided to cancel all existing patent licensing deals with companies that distribute Linux and over the coming 24 months we shall refund them all the money charged in the period of 2006-2016, except in cases where these charges have already rendered those companies defunct or bankrupt.
Nadella has not yet commented about the possibility of scuttling Microsoft-connected patent trolls such as Intellectual Ventures, which also attack Linux. █
Postscript: sadly, this story is made up (April 1st) and will most probably remain fictional for good.
April fools joke eh?
April Fools!
Sad that it is not the truth :-/
Software patents are EVIL! and STUPID!
Yep. They got me. I’m so gullible.
Damn got me too
Unless you have one
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.