Dear readers, sorry that I take issue with some joke from the same owner, but I do not I get something else. today’s film going conspiracy against free software and how could it be otherwise, the essential ingredients in this kind of titles are not lacking: a plot hatched by a fearsome villain (Microsoft), an wronged hero and destroyed (which would be the desktop Linux, played by GNOME) and even a traitor (KDE, protected by Novell). But do not blame you in advance to any of these names, because the script has written another.

original story I read a few days ago in one of the many publications that I follow and I passed it because personally I found infumable. For one simple reason: an article is presented as current, is merely opinion and, much worse, conjectures without any corroborating source (eye, gives many sources, but no key). It suggests that what counts is as account, which I do not think of receipt. So, write about it seemed to me more credit attack that publication than a necessity to refute something that needs to be refuted by obvious.

However, since yesterday a reader commented in these pages the matter and I do not want to be confused with censorship order (end explain this), as exception we will discuss the film above . The synopsis:

The story goes of how Microsoft destroyed the opportunity to win the Linux desktop, specifically GNOME 2 that proficiently reigning late the past decade in GNU / Linux. It all happened because GNOME Windows infringed patents related to user interface-start button and start menu, mainly. Patents did not affect KDE, as this took shelter in agreements between Novell and Microsoft. In contrast, GNOME necessarily had to evolve to what today is GNOME 3 / Shell and the same for Ubuntu with Unity. Both avoided and a lawsuit that could have sunk (behind GNOME would be Red Hat), although they have finished sinking themselves with the changes that have been implemented; sinking of desktop Linux step by fragmentation that has been created and to be Gnome create with one hand and Cinnamon Unity other by another, to name three examples the key. A perfect move for Microsoft, go.

Admittedly

history that is marked in The Register is well spun, but no longer, in my opinion , a total fraud . That is precisely what we discussed in FOSS Force, the article mentioned and linked the reader in no case gives reason opposite. Although in his defense, I FOSS Force text was edited afterwards accusing the obvious: there is no where to take the story of The Register.

The cornerstone of the plot by which falls hopelessly this house of cards is the patent agreement between Microsoft and Novell . What covered exactly that right? What Microsoft does not sue Novell for the KDE start menu? You really included that? Certainly not what official sources told. Although perhaps the author of the original article had access to sources that know and are still not public, because there the appointment.

To complete the puzzle (or end of break …), the author says not to worry that these patents affect the Linux desktop, as Microsoft has not claimed since 2007 and any law, has lost the right to to. This measure does not specify a particular time, so now is not effective if a claim, the same could be argued in 2007, considering that was launched in 1996 KDE and GNOME in 1997, ten years earlier .

the overwhelming response of the community Linux-companies and developers, including Linus Torvalds, to threats from Microsoft is summarized in one sentence: “If Windows Linux patent infringement, say what” . Microsoft’s response was always silent. At the same time, he signed a patent agreement, among others, with Novell we’ve seen on what basis. Point. End of story.

much more detail to the publication of yore, but to what end? I leave you to judge all this, because there is more of a pearl that think , should have been counted as “ think that it happened like that,” instead of ” this happened like that. ” That at least.

At this point I’d like to break a lance for GNOME 3 / Shell and Ubuntu and Unity . You may have given them a few sticks because, always in my opinion and opinion pieces like this-not successful-or not at all, for sure, but are trying to innovate each their own way and we have to recognize also . Have you done out of obligation? I like that I do not.

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