TomTom versus Microsoft

[AgeGap]

Anybody got a take on what is happening here?
Are Microsoft about to try and cut out the Linux "cancer"?

[GreNME]

Link? Background?

Is Microsoft taking on Tom Tom, or are they trying to buy it? If the former, what's the fight about, and if the latter what's their goal since they already have comparable software (MapPoint and Streets & Trips)?

I'd go searching for information and background, but why ask for a comment without providing any sort of reference point?

[jeremyp]

Link? Background?

Is Microsoft taking on Tom Tom, or are they trying to buy it? If the former, what's the fight about, and if the latter what's their goal since they already have comparable software (MapPoint and Streets & Trips)?

I'd go searching for information and background, but why ask for a comment without providing any sort of reference point?
Tom Tom Sat Navs run Linux. They include a driver for the FAT32 file system including the algorithm that Microsoft invented to map long file names onto short 8.3 file names. Microsoft claims that Tom Tom violates their patent on that algorithm plus seven others (five of which are not related to Linux).

[AgeGap]

Speculation is rife over the motives of Microsoft.
Balmer on record saying Linux is a cancer.
Microsofts previous interest in buying TomTom.
TomTom not using Microsoft mapping technology thus peeing Microsoft off.

Ballmer: "Linux is a cancer" (http://www.linux.org/news/2001/06/01/0003.html)


Microsoft is trying to prevent people using and distributing software under the GNU General Public Licence (http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39625137,00.htm)

Has Microsoft's Patent War Against Linux Begun? (http://opendotdotdot.blogspot.com/2009/02/has-microsofts-patent-war-against-linux.html)

Why Microsoft's TomTom lawsuit is really an attack on Linux (http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/03/08/why-microsofts-tom-tom-lawsuit-is-really-an-attack-on-linux)

[Darat]

Surely the issue is a rather simple one? I.e. whether TomTom has violated Microsoft's patents or not?

[nathan]

Surely the issue is a rather simple one? I.e. whether TomTom has violated Microsoft's patents or not?

... and whether the patents are valid. These ones define a mechanism to extend the 8.3 FAT filename format. There are several ways one could do that, but in order to interoperate you have to pick *one*.

My understanding is that the patents refer to writing files to the storage device. Tom Tom may not do that. It reads them from storage and exposes a block device to the host computer when you decide to update code. So the Tom Tom device does not do the directory management.

Never pay any attention to what Microsoft *say*, pay attention to what they *do*.

[CORed]

Surely the issue is a rather simple one? I.e. whether TomTom has violated Microsoft's patents or not?

That's one issue. The other is whether Microsoft's patent is valid or not. I'm guessing that TomTom will try to make the validity of the patent the issue.

[GreNME]

That's one issue. The other is whether Microsoft's patent is valid or not. I'm guessing that TomTom will try to make the validity of the patent the issue.

I hope they win. That's got to be one of the stupidest patents I've seen in a while.

[AgeGap]

Linux Foundation gets ready to fight against Microsoft’s Lawsuit (http://tech.firdooze.com/2009/02/28/linux-foundation-gets-ready-to-fight-agains-microsofts-lawsuit/) which is good for TomTom cause they do not seem to have two pennies to rub together (http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/feb/24/tomtom-satnavs-recession).