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Microsoft today announced that it has joined the open source patent group Open Invention Network to protect Linux and other open source software from patent lawsuits. As part of this agreement, the software giant opens a library of 60,000 patents to ISO members. Access to the massive portfolio is unlimited and royalty-free.
As ZDNET notes, this is a radical change from the highly controversial society of the past. Among other things, the company had previously been interested in different companies in the Android ecosystem. Microsoft acknowledged in his announcement, adding that the news should be seen as a sign that she was turning a new page.
"We know that Microsoft's decision to join ISO may seem surprising to some," writes VP EVP Erich Andersen in a blog post, "It's no secret. patents. For others who have followed our evolution, we hope that this announcement will be seen as the next logical step for a company that listens to customers and developers and resolutely turns to Linux and other open source programs. "
The news also revealed that the company was seeking to blur the boundaries between Windows and Linus development, encouraging developers to create programs for both operating systems, as well as .NET and Java.
Last week, Microsoft followed the example of companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon by joining the LOT Network anti-patent control group.
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