"Show Us the Code" Breaks Its Silence

DigDuality writes with an explanation of the silence of the Show Us the Code initiative. The push he began — to gather influential sponsors demanding that Steve Ballmer reveal what Linux code he believed to be infringing Microsoft patents — was discussed here last February. "Show Us the Code has been silent since March 23. May came and went — the deadline allotted for calling Ballmer's bluff — but the site gave no update. I now explain the silence. After a scheduled interview with Forbes columnist Dan Lyons didn't happen, and my place of employment falsely accused me of representing that they endorsed my own political goals, I decided it was best to shut my mouth so I would be able to keep paying my bills. I'm glad to see Linus now publicly echoing the sentiments that this site espoused. Maybe someone already accustomed to the limelight will have better luck in challenging Microsoft's FUD machine."

Re:Keep paying bills

[muridae]

If that could've been properly documented I think there is federal protection for termination threats based upon political affiliation.

If they were threatening him for that, sure. But that's not what the article said.

falsely accused me of representing that they endorsed my own political goals

The company was upset because, in their eyes, he used their name in a way that made it look like they supported him. They just threatened him with termination over misuse of the company name. The problem is, even if he never mentioned that name in his blog, he would probably have to get fired before he could turn around and sue the company for terminating him without a cause.

Re:What gets me..

[harlows_monkeys]

It's probably the same ones that RMS says Linux violates: [fsfeurope.org]

Two years ago, a thorough study found that the kernel Linux infringed 283 different software patents, and that's just in the US. Of course, by now the number is probably different and might be higher.

1489 "brave" souls have challenged MSFT publicly

[christian.einfeldt]

I can understand the concern for keeping one's job. But there are 1,489 people who have publicly challenged Microsoft to sue them based on Microsoft's questionable Microsoft patent claims:

http://digitaltippingpoint.com/wiki/index.php?titl e=SMFM_list_page_12 [digitaltippingpoint.com]

Included on that list is none other than Eric S. Raymond, who has this to say:

130. Eric S. Raymond. Yes, Microsoft, the guy who's been harshing your mellow since I wrote The Cathedral and the Bazaar in 1997. Linux user since 1993, so I've been violating your nonexistent patents for fourteen years. Sue me first. Please, oh please! Because I don't think I've kicked your sorry asses enough yet, and I'd love another round with you chumps.

And this from someone who is supplying the Aussie Defence Forces with "patent infringing" software:

Steve O'Connor (Adelaide, Australia) BAD ME - I am using a pirated copy of Gentoo Linux that I illegally downloaded off the internet, and have installed on a whole rack of servers that I use to make money by providing information services to the Australian Defence Forces. I skipped out on paying any licence fees by doing it this way, and I have (illegal ?) access to all the source code, so I can hack my application around however I see fit. I have also ripped off a copy of PCLinuxOS from the internet (Which is like a HaXoRed version of Vista), without giving out my credit card, and used that same single copy to install on dozens of other computers. The recipients of these PCLinuxOS machines are way happy too ...

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion