Linux, which was described by Windows Division Vice President Brian Valentine as the long-term threat against Microsoft's core business, is banned from interoperating with its common Internet file system, otherwise known as Windows File and Printer Sharing (NOTE: NOT ANY OTHER PART OF WINDOWS).
Because Microsoft has patented features of the file-sharing protocol, open-source developers who implement the protocol could be sued for infringement.
Although the current issue is solely related to Windows file-sharing, it IS however possible that the same techniques could be used in the future to prevent GPL/LGPL licenced software interoperating with ANY aspect of Windows, such as files created using Microsoft Office. They could also make it illegal for you to view a website generated with Microsoft Frontpage with the Mozilla web browser. BUT, there is no indication of this happening at present.
Since Microsoft hates the GPL so much, give them more of it to contend with: Deploy systems like GNU/Linux as Web servers and other infrastructure, and consider Mozilla, OpenOffice and Evolution for the desktop. Look around for software projects that you can place under the GPL: internal tools, research work, products that you built and then didn't sell--and get your employer to release them.
But most importantly, let the U.S. Department of Justice and the nine U.S. states that want to settle with Microsoft know that you won't tolerate a sham. The remedies in the antitrust case must not exclude Microsoft's only real competitor.
Information for this story was taken from CNET News.com.
The full story is here.
This story has been mis-reported by many sites and has caused confusion with many Linux users. As far as we can tell, these are the REAL facts from a reliable source.
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