News about legal issues involving Linux, Open Source and Free Software

 Open source group buys old Microsoft patents to protect Linux, Sep 09, 2009

When it comes to using a version of Linux the only thing end users really need worry about is which flavor to pick and when to schedule the 600MB+ free download. But for corporate and business users there is a wider concern, and that is whether the operating system they are building applications and services on top of will continue to be open, free, and devoid of any legal disputes going forward. To that end there is a major drive behind securing the future of Linux with regards to patents.

A group of companies with big stakes in the Linux operating system are close to acquiring 22 patents once owned by Microsoft in a likely bid to head off potential legal threats to the open-source operating system.

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