Tech: Microsoft cashing in on its patents

Microsoft is demanding royalties from every Linux user which is says violate 235 of its patents. The patents can be categorized as follows: 42 patent violations on the Linux kernel, 65 violations on design elements, 45 violations in Open Office suite, 15 infringements in its email programs, and an assorted 68 violations. Under the guidance from chief legal council Brad Smith since 1990, Microsoft has amassed tens of thousands of unused patents over the years. At a time when Microsoft was still facing the aftermath of its anti-trust violations, it opted for cross-licensing its patents with other companies. Now at a time where it faces its greatest competition, Google, it has decided go all or nothing regardless of what the public thinks of them. Microsoft has stated it will go after every patent infringement, not just the Linux operating system, but all infringing software licensed under the open source agreement. Source doc fortune magazine, cnn money

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