[Random-bits] Possible Microsoft Litigation Over NTFS Support In Linux

[James Love]

This rather geeky bit over NTFS support in Linux was featured on
slashdot today.

Jamie


http://kt.linuxcare.com/kernel-traffic/kt20000925_86.epl#13

13. Possible Microsoft Litigation Over NTFS Support In Linux

  [snip]

We've started our "clean room" NTFS core and I've spent some late
nights working on it, and we doubt they will take any action
since we dissolved the agreement. The last thing they need is for
me to take the stand and testify just what kind of deals they
offered to get us to leave Novell in 1997 and divide the NetWare
markets by using the "Linux IP Laundry-Mat" to launder Novell's
NDS for their consumption (Oh! Look what we found on the internet
and downloaded today!). 

NDS would be a useless wart on the rump of Linux. It's for
managing large numbers of file and print servers, not
internet/intranet servers like Linux. Linux already has vastly
superior internet directory capabilities. 

         Andre replied to Jeff's first paragraph: 

Wait, this was a proposal of mine to MicroSoft to grant
permission development in a clean room model that only used white
papers or other stuff that could be extracted passively. 

I alos pointed out that this simple act of allowing open
development of a public NTFS would help them blow holes in the
DOJ monopoly issue. 

         Jeff replied: 

The way they took this was that we had changed sides in the war,
since I was perceived to be approaching them with you. Here's
what they said about you, 

"... We are concernd about the veracity of your associates.
Despite the representations they have made to you, we have not
been taking GPL code from Linux and using internally
at Microsoft. This approach by these Linux people is little more
than an attempt to [blackmail Microsoft] with unsubstanciated
rumors. We see no benefit whatsoever to provided NTFS R/W
capabilities on Linux ..." 

Not very nice to be sure. I know that black and white markings
(like a penguin) are in style right now, but white and black
stripes are not ! :-) 

	But he concluded, "I have the ability to litigate against
them. They know this and I doubt will go any further than to
bluster and threaten." End Of Thread (tm). 



-- 
James Love  mailto:love@cptech.org http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology, P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
voice 1.202.387.8030  fax  1.202.234.5176