Thursday, June 14, 2007

Microsoft Ties With Linux Provider In Interop, Patent Deal

Microsoft has signed on another Linux operating system provider in a combination technical and patent agreement, the firm announced Thursday morning. Microsoft and San Diego, California-based Linspire, a provider of a desktop Linux operating system distribution, said that the two will collaborate on both technical areas as well as intellectual property assurances. A major piece of the agreement includes the ability for Linspire customers to acquire a patent covenant from Microsoft for customers running its operating system; the agreement is similar to a controversial deal Microsoft recently inked with Novell, another provider of Linux OS distributions.