Microsoft: IP Licensing 'Inevitable'

Defending intellectual property and patent licensing is quickly becoming a hot button for proprietary and open-source software developers alike. For many, it's not a case of if but when Linux and open-source software developers will be forced to license other vendors' intellectual property, regardless of how complicated it may be to execute under the GPL (GNU General Public License). As a result, enterprises standardizing on open platforms are paying closer attention to the growing risk of legal action the software could bring.

Microsoft Corp. announced last week that it will expand its intellectual property protection policy and cover all customers using current and older versions of its software. Many Linux vendors, such as Red Hat Inc. and Novell Inc., already offer limited indemnification to cover patent actions such as The SCO Group Inc. lawsuits. But given Linux's continued growth, customers are worried that some third-party code will eventually find its way into the operating system, over which someone could then claim patent protection.