I have pointed this out time and again. Like it or not, the patent war is already here. Luckily, if it hits full throttle, Google will be a part of it on the side of Linux vendors. Google uses Linux and is ready to battle alongside the rest of Open Invention Network, utilizing a collection of Linux patents against Microsoft if it comes down to it. In short, we have ourselves a virtual cold war of intellectual property (IP) propaganda.
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dehumanizer
16 years 34 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago
Is there patented code in Linux?
Is there patented code in Linux?
dave
16 years 34 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago
I think it has become clear through
I think it has become clear through observing MS's business strategies that they do whatever it takes to get rid of competition. GNU/Linux is competition. If they could knock out GNU/Linux through IP laws they would have done so already. That hasn't happened so either a) GNU/Linux doesn't infringe on their IP; b) they know they'd lose for some reason if they sued (the courts might decide the patents were granted in error to MS, or that the patents are on obvious innovations etc.); or c) they can't afford to sue because companies like Google and IBM would countersue - Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) just like in the cold war.
To make it simple, the answer to your question is either "No" or "It doesn't matter because the patent system is dodgy".
kiba
16 years 34 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago
The probability of GNU/Linux having
The probability of GNU/Linux having patented code is 1 out of 1.
If they were to sue, there would be a very ugly patent war in which nobody win.