The price of Microsoft's patent protection deal

[Apteryx]

I just stumbled on something interesting: http://www.xandros.com/products/ip_assurance_na.html.

You can buy (optional) the "intellectual property assurance" with the Xandros desktop for 50$.

That would indicate that the other parties that partnered with Microsoft (e.g. Novell) might be paying as much as 50$ for every license they sell.

[deanjo]

That would indicate that the other parties that partnered with Microsoft (e.g. Novell) might be paying as much as 50$ for every license they sell.

Actually it is quite the opposite. Novell makes money off of MS in that deal. MS made a upfront payment to Novell for licensing of 348 million, also in agreement MS will spend 46 million annually for marketing and selling a combined SLES/Windows Server offering and in return Novell will spend ~ 40 million back in licensing per year over the fix year deal. Since then MS has purchased an additional 100 million worth of "linux support vouchers" from Novell.

[Mstealth]

I am unable to understand what you want to say?

[Apteryx]

I am unable to understand what you want to say?

I was just surprised to be able to see a price tag associated with the MS patent protection deal (per user), so I posted it here.

Deanjo, thanks for sharing these details.

[Saundra]

Can someone explain this to me in laymen terms? I'm not quite sure that I understand why MS would pay so much to Novell. What exactly is meant by "intellectual property assurance", and what does this mean for the consumer?

[Tomfille]

It is supposed Novell is obliged to pay Microsoft a percentage of its revenue from Linux in order to prevent Microsoft from suing its customers based on patent infringements.

[PsynoKhi0]

Can someone explain this to me in laymen terms? I'm not quite sure that I understand why MS would pay so much to Novell. What exactly is meant by "intellectual property assurance", and what does this mean for the consumer?

In layman terms: the "Be Very Afraid Tour"

[Qaridarium]