Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

[Posted October 10, 2018 by ris]

Microsoft has announced that it has joined the Open Invention Network (OIN). "We know Microsoft’s decision to join OIN may be viewed as surprising to some, as it is no secret that there has been friction in the past between Microsoft and the open source community over the issue of patents. For others who have followed our evolution as a company, we hope this will be viewed as the next logical step for a company that is listening to its customers and is firmly committed to Linux and other open source programs."

to post comments

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 10, 2018 16:01 UTC (Wed) by snmishra (guest, #68860) [Link] (4 responses)

Does that mean they don't get Android licensing revenue anymore?

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 11, 2018 6:16 UTC (Thu) by nhippi (subscriber, #34640) [Link]

Existing contracts will stand in place. If you have a 2 year phone contract, and the operator announces a plan half your price, it doesn't mean your phone bill just got halved. So this affects only companies who don't have a (cross)licensing deal with Microsoft.

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 11, 2018 12:51 UTC (Thu) by martin.langhoff (guest, #61417) [Link]

Will we ever see a comment from MS on the Android patent license topic?

I hope it ended the practice some time ago, and just forgot to tell us. It was a shitty mafia move from the start.

Would be refreshing to hear them acknowledge the topic, and put it to bed.

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 12, 2018 10:49 UTC (Fri) by zoobab (guest, #9945) [Link] (1 responses)

If Microsoft's CEO wants to repair the errors of the past, he can initiate a refund of all the money they have collected from Android manufacturers, and ultimately from consumers.

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 12, 2018 17:37 UTC (Fri) by mpr22 (subscriber, #60784) [Link]

That sounds like the relevant term of art would be "breach of fiduciary duty", and not just in the sarcastic "of course corporations are obliged to ruthlessly maximize profit" sense.

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 10, 2018 16:12 UTC (Wed) by pj (subscriber, #4506) [Link] (4 responses)

Conjecture: Microsoft wants back into the cellphone game, and wants to do it based on Android.

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 10, 2018 16:47 UTC (Wed) by drag (guest, #31333) [Link]

I don't think that it's any conjecture that Microsoft has abandoned the Windows Phone platform and is now using Android and iPhones for their chosen software now. As well as working on improving Android-Windows integration.

It doesn't seem likely that Microsoft is interested in producing Microsoft Phones anymore though. Not since they sold Nokia off to Foxconn/HMD. Maybe they will have branded phones like Google does, but that's just marketing stuff.

I would expect that joining 'Open Invention Network' has something to do with Android and all that. Certainly it has to do with Microsoft now focusing on using Linux more and more in the cloud and as a platform for their software. As a for-profit company they really have no choice but to follow where their customers want to go.

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 10, 2018 18:02 UTC (Wed) by xtifr (guest, #143) [Link] (2 responses)

I suspect that relevant factors include:

1. Linux has not become a major threat to their desktop monopoly for various reasons. (Chromebooks aside.) Despite everything, the Linux desktop is still perceived as the domain of the Geek Ghetto.

2. Linux is too entrenched in the server room to dislodge. Cooperation and interoperability are their best bets for maintaining (and possibly expanding) whatever space they have left there.

3. Windows mobile was a failure, and, as you suggest, they're probably looking at Android.

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 10, 2018 18:58 UTC (Wed) by zdzichu (subscriber, #17118) [Link]

Or rather Linux is a main source of income for Microsoft, as it is for other cloud providers.

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 10, 2018 19:13 UTC (Wed) by raven667 (subscriber, #5198) [Link]

> 2. Linux is too entrenched in the server room to dislodge.

To this point, I believe that Linux is the most popular guest OS type on Azure, infrastructure management and rental is where the money is at, not in licensing of copyrighted works.

Microsoft should take next steps to show good faith.

Posted Oct 10, 2018 17:04 UTC (Wed) by bkuhn (subscriber, #58642) [Link] (6 responses)

I just posted a call for Microsoft to upstream exfat into Linux as a show of good faith that their intention is to stop patent shakdowns against the software freedom community. I urge everyone to carefully read the OIN agreement and their Linux System Definition to understand the limits of OIN's limited patent non-aggression pact.

Microsoft should take next steps to show good faith.

Posted Oct 10, 2018 17:23 UTC (Wed) by patrick_g (subscriber, #44470) [Link] (3 responses)

What if the Samsung exfat code is sent tomorrow to upstream by someone other than Microsoft and accepted upstream? According to the text posted on your blog this will end the risk of patent extorsion :

> the non-aggression pact only applies to the upstream versions of software, including Linux itself.

Why there is a need to ask Microsoft to submit the exfat code themselves to upstream?

Microsoft should take next steps to show good faith.

Posted Oct 10, 2018 18:02 UTC (Wed) by bkuhn (subscriber, #58642) [Link] (2 responses)

Microsoft doing the upstreaming themselves gives the other benefits I mentioned in my blogpost. Remember that any company can withdraw from OIN's non-aggression pact at any time. IIRC, there is a cooling off period when they do, but after that period, they are no longer bound by it and can begin patent aggression again even on patents that were covered by the pact. The OIN pact is really a measure of "what's safe today?", and really not "what will be safe tomorrow?".

Microsoft should take next steps to show good faith.

Posted Oct 11, 2018 8:43 UTC (Thu) by abraxis (guest, #34961) [Link] (1 responses)

OK - I've been looking at the OIN agreement - Section 2.2 is about a "Limitation Election" which seems to say that companies can pull out with 30 days notice, and then start hammering other folks for patent stuff again, or am I reading the legalese incorrectly?

Microsoft should take next steps to show good faith.

Posted Oct 11, 2018 23:08 UTC (Thu) by Wol (subscriber, #4433) [Link]

They might get caught by estoppel, but then again they might not ...

Cheers,
Wol

What patent is still valid?

Posted Oct 10, 2018 17:53 UTC (Wed) by david.a.wheeler (subscriber, #72896) [Link] (1 responses)

That seems like a fair request, but what patent is still legally valid in what jurisdiction(s)? (I don't think the patent should have been granted in the first place, but you know what I mean.)

What patent is still valid?

Posted Oct 10, 2018 20:44 UTC (Wed) by armijn (subscriber, #3653) [Link]

FAT != exFAT

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 10, 2018 19:48 UTC (Wed) by johannbg (guest, #65743) [Link] (1 responses)

Good for Microsoft bettering itself as a company. . .

Microsoft joins Open Invention Network

Posted Oct 11, 2018 2:52 UTC (Thu) by adam820 (subscriber, #101353) [Link]

A lawnmower only knows how to mow lawns. Don't be surprised when it turns around and chops your finger off.