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The whole Linux ecosystem immediately went ballistic, asking Microsoft to publicly reveal the patents in question, and also to stop trying to kill off Linux.
I covered that fallout in a post titled Open Source Envy over 235 violated Microsoft patents on NetworkWorld.com at that time.
Worthy concerns, and Microsoft hastened to clarify.
For one, it smartly didn’t reveal the patents in question. Instead, it sough to create an ecosystem whereby violators would pay tribute to it (Microsoft), and all would be well.
It also realized that it could monetize the ascent of Linux and gain more indemnification for the Microsoft ecosystem.
Enter Android
With Android, Google stepped into it. Big time!
I don’t think I have come across any statement that describes Google’s behavior more correctly than the tweet below from a stalwart I follow:
“Google is a fundamentally dishonest company”
Rob Enderle, Principal, Enderle Consulting, @enderle
He should know. He’s been watching the industry for decades, as an Inquiry Analyst.
Google’s public stance on Android, for it’s openness, to licensing covenants, to IP indemnification for licensees, has come under increasing scrutiny. Even Android’s gestation is under attack, with daily news of how Google decided to steal Java instead of licensing it.
Over time, Android has come under attack, though not from Microsoft. From Apple, Oracle, and others. As for Microsoft, it has been content to do private show-and-tell sessions for violators of its IP, and in return receive royalties from them.
I have documented these from time to time, celebrating as once-vocal company after another joined The Collective. Prior to yesterday, the largest licensee of Microsoft’s Linux/Android largess was HTC, enjoying paying the low-low price of $5.00 USD (supposedly) for its misdeeds.
Samsung comes home 
Microsoft’s acceptance of the proffered tithe, a mere pittance at the rumored $10 - $15 range, was gracious, and immediate.
Incredibly though, Google had a problem with this! In a release reported by an infernal drone at TechCrunch, Google, this time eschewing the mindless banter of their Chief Whining Officer, David Drummond, stated the following:
“This is the same tactic we’ve seen time and again from Microsoft. Failing to succeed in the smartphone market, they are resorting to legal measures to extort profit from others’ achievements and hinder the pace of innovation. We remain focused on building new technology and supporting Android partners.”
Wow.
My first thought upon reading this was, “Google, thou dost complaineth too much!”, and wondered what the view from Microsoft would be.
I shouldn’t have worried.
Frank X Shaw is manager of corporate communications for Microsoft. As he did when he defanged the aforementioned David Drummond, he posted a apropos retort via Twitter. A screen snip is below.
AKA, cork that bottle of whine!
Disclosure: over the years, I have served as a lone beacon in the wilderness, helping to shine some light on Google’s use of crocodile tears to hide it’s use of the press to further its goals. A memorable piece was this, Mr. Google goes to Washington, where I called them out for constantly whining. The difference is that nowadays, whining has been identified as their modus operandi, and no one cares anymore. Especially now that they have been exposed as serial offenders.
Anyways, Frank’s earnest tweet, brought the equivalent of guffaws across the Intertubes, as people realized that he had again exposed Google. In less than 140 characters!
Indeed, he had. Kip Kniskern, managing editor of Liveside.net, the premier site focused on Windows Live, posted this gem:
Yeah, no one was buying the Google story.
In closing, I would like to suggest to Google the easy way to make this pain point go away: license and/or pay for other people’s or companies’ IP. It is the right thing to do, and it is also part of the Top 10, namely, “Thou shalt not steal”.
Follow your company’s now-discredited motto: “Do no evil”
Meanwhile, in other news, two Linux groups, tired of lurching individually in the darkness that is their stated mission – to create a mobile Linux OS acceptable to mankind have finally groped each other in that darkness, and in the ensuing embrace, declared their intent to merge and develop yet another mobile Linux distro! This flight of fancy would be called Tizen.
As I tweeted here, “OSF/1, Moblin, Maemo, Meego, Tizen. Anyone see a trend here w/ these dogs? Basically, OS developed by consortia ALWAYS FAIL! You're welcome.”
I seriously don’t make this nonsense up!
Note: There is truth to the rumor that I have purposely used the Comic Sans typeface in noting the Google presser.
