When Microsoft Sends Its Legal Dept. To Give Quotes On Product Launches, Something Is Wrong
from the that's-not-development-any-more dept
We've noted the very clear shift in patent strategies at Microsoft over the years -- from a company that hated patents to one that now views them as central to its mission, and often uses them to threaten competitors. However, you want to know when things have really gone too far? It's when the company is sending out the legal department to provide press quotes on a "product launch" that is tied to a technology licensing deal. As Matt Asay points out in the link here, in a story about Novell launching Linux on a Windows virtualization offering, there are two quotes from Microsoft employees -- and both appear to come from the legal department rather than a product role. What used to be an innovative company working on new stuff is apparently turning into a legal firm trying to put tollbooths on innovation. It's sad.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: intellectual property, licensing, patents, product launch
Companies: microsoft, novell
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Wait, I thought this post was about Microsoft?!
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FTFY
FTFY
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invention != innovation
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Things really went too far
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Simple Math
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More lawyers aren't such a bad thing...
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MS Legal
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It's a licensing deal not a product launch
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