Microsoft Inks Deal with Linux Provider Linspire

Microsoft's agreement with Linux provider Linspire, much like the other similar deals, details a wide variety of technical projects to "enhance interoperability and expand the functionality of Linspire" for working with Microsoft products. One notable part of the deal is that Windows Live Search will now be the default search for Linspire 5.0.

Another day, another Microsoft Relevant Products/Services cross-licensing Linux deal. On Thursday, the software giant and Linux desktop provider Linspire announced an "interoperability, technical collaboration."

As with Microsoft's recent parade of similar deals with other companies, this one includes protection for Linspire's customers from Microsoft's claims of Linux patent infringements.

"Linspire will be providing its customers," said a joint press release, "with the option of acquiring a patent covenant from Microsoft for customers operating the Linspire desktop."

The patent covenants, which customers can choose whether or not to obtain, "provide customers with confidence that the Linspire technologies they use come with rights to relevant Microsoft patents."

'Enhance Interoperability'

Microsoft has said that Linux and related open-source software infringe on some 235 of its patents, a declaration that is adamantly opposed by members of the open-source community. In recent months, its legal department has been busy making cross-licensing deals with such companies as Novell, Samsung, LG Electronics, Xandros, and others, each of which has included protection for the partnering company's customers from Microsoft claims of Linux patent infringement.

The Linspire agreement, much like the others, details a wide variety of technical projects to "enhance interoperability and expand the functionality of Linspire" for working with Microsoft products.

These projects include document format compatibility, including open-source translators for OpenOffice and Microsoft Office. In instant messaging, Linspire will use a Microsoft codec for voice-enabled interoperability between Linspire's Pidgin instant messaging client and Microsoft's Office Communicator and Windows Live Messenger clients.

New releases of Linspire will support Windows Media 10 audio and video codecs, for better sharing of media files between the two customer bases, and Linspire will license several Microsoft TrueType fonts.

Another notable part of the deal is that Windows Live Search will now be the default search engine of Linspire 5.0. Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo have been vigorously battling for search engine placements with their partners.

Microsoft's Stages

The Microsoft-Linspire deal and the others are part of the end stage of how the Redmond, Washington-based company has been dealing with Linux, said Yankee Group analyst Laura DiDio. "First," she said, "there's deny, deny, deny. Then it's hostility: '[Linux is] a cancer.' Then you get marketing and counter-marketing, to convince you that my products are better."

Finally, she said, it's "pragmatic good sense, or 'co-opetition,'" which is where Microsoft is now, as illustrated by this deal with Linspire and others.

Chris Voce, an analyst at Forrester, offered a similar take. He said that this deal is more about bridge-building for Microsoft and the Linux camp than about walling off patent partners. It is also, he pointed out, about getting Windows Live Search and other Microsoft products or translators "into as many hands as possible."

He added that, as far as he can see, the I.T. directors at major enterprises are not worried about being sued by Microsoft if they use Linux.