Tags: Linux, Microsoft, Ubuntu

Mark Shuttleworth: Ubuntu-Microsoft deal not going to happen

Software giant Microsoft has been signed a lot of deals these days with Linux companies related to their claimed unspecified patent infringements.

Some of the companies which have already signed deals with Microsoft include Novell, Linspire and Xandros.

Canonical chief executive Mark Shuttleworth has now stated in a blog post that Ubuntu is not going to sign a similar deal with Microsoft considering they have not given any proof on infringements made by Linux and other OS software.

Shuttleworth said in his blog post: “We have declined to discuss any agreement with Microsoft under the threat of unspecified patent infringements.”

He added: “I don’t believe that the intent of the current round of agreements is supportive of free software, and in fact I don’t think it’s particularly in Microsoft’s interests to pursue this agenda either.”

However, Shuttleworth did not rule out possible collaboration deals with Microsoft. He said: “I have no objections to working with Microsoft in ways that further the cause of free software, and I don’t rule out any collaboration with them, in the event that they adopt a position of constructive engagement with the free software community. It’s not useful to characterize any company as ‘intrinsically evil for all time.’”