Microsoft Vs Tom-Tom - Not Linux Distributions

My inbox has been filling up today with panicked Linux users asking me if Microsoft has finally decided to launch an assault on companies that use Linux. The reason for this question apparently has to do with Microsoft’s lawsuit against GPS vendor, Tom-Tom.

What the lawsuit is about, partially based on the use of FAT for memory cards used by Tom-Tom. The GPS does indeed, run Linux and utilize FAT for their memory cards. And yes, Microsoft has managed to hold onto a number of patents, some of which involve the way FAT. But it should be pointed out there are other alleged patent violations that also have nothing to do with Linux at all. The only reason Linux even plays into this is because this is the kernel used for the Tom-Tom devices - that’s it.

Is Microsoft “coming after Linux” in a literal sense? Nope. So where does this leave things? Clearly, with Microsoft and Tom-Tom in court, as it were. Should Linux developers concern themselves with this? No, as they more than anyone, realize that this issue with Tom-Tom is different than seeing Microsoft coming after any desktop competitors.

Without starting a war of words, suffice it to say that there is no way in heck MS is going to cross that line. Sadly, software patents are lot like nukes. Simply having access to them is enough to keep the other guy out of your backseat in most cases. And you better believe there are some big name companies that also have patents that are used by Microsoft as well, allegedly.

While Ballmer defines Linux as a bigger threat than OS X, he is likely smart enough to rely on Windows 7 to tackle desktop Linux rather than put faith in petty bickering over patent claims to solve issues of competition, most of which still have never been proven or offered up in the court of public record, by the way.

This is not even an issue that should be of concern to anyone other than camera manufacturers and other hardware vendors using FAT without clearing patent concerns ahead of time. Besides, Microsoft’s FAT patent did not hold up so well last time anyway…although Tom-Tom might have a harder time defending against the use of this patent though. So those of you using FAT with open source software, I would not worry too much.