Everywhere I turn these days, I continue to hear how “Novell” sold Linux users down the river. And while I partially agree with this perspective, I do differ with those who say Xandros did the same thing. Xandros is simply looking to make sure that fluidity between the Linux desktop and Windows desktop is as smooth as possible. Heck, it did not even share which of these alleged patents were being violated whatsoever to the Linux company. Unfortunately, another company has made a deal with Microsoft, and it is not who you might expect either.

LG Joins Forces With Microsoft. Even though IP licenses were offered to Xandros, it was LG that took it up on the offer. Personally, I think this is really more the work of twitchy lawyers and less about anything with any real teeth to it.

With that said, I have to wonder: is it possible that this is something that only has real teeth to it if a corporation wishes to do business in the U.S.? I’m beginning to think so. Check this out: Microsoft has made zero moves to “frighten” the common users to stop using Linux. However, on the corporate front in the U.S., its attempts with the old IP rights whip have been fairly successful.

Yet overseas governments, schools, and other corporate entities have all but rolled their eyes at this whole patent thing. And I suspect it largely has to do with Microsoft not being able to do squat about its alleged IP rights violations. Frankly, I would require public disclosure before even giving it the time of day myself, but this is just me.

I digress. Getting back to LG. So now that LG has opted into Microsoft’s irrational claims, we have yet another Microsoft ally to contend with — the spread of misinformation claim gains even more momentum.

An Even Split Between Two Parties. Because of all this supposed patent violation nonsense going back and forth, I have to consider one real possibility. The U.S. will continue to remain behind the global curve with Linux as a Windows alternative. Even as individual users continue to adopt and learn more about the most popular of the Linux distros, Ubuntu, the challenge of gaining a foothold within the U.S.-based corporate world will remain in Microsoft’s back pocket.

So, I see this leading to one very definite scenario. As previously described, the U.S. corporate world will pay a price and continue to fall behind with desktop Linux technologies. The casual Linux user within the U.S. will become more empowered and adoption will continue to grow, regardless of the usual Microsoft dogma.

Love it or hate it, Microsoft’s IP attacks will continue, Linux user numbers will continue to grow, and broad spectrum adoption throughout the rest of the world will grow and flourish. Microsoft’s not interested in destroying Linux in the slightest. Why would it? It’s been a fantastic vehicle for the company to land a firmer grip on the corporations throughout the U.S..

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Tags: linux, microsoft