Group of Microsoft Rivals Nears Patent Deal in Bid to Protect Linux

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Article Source The Wall Street Journal

Microsoft Corp. has suggested in recent years that companies using the Linux computer-operating system might be violating Microsoft patents. Now, in an effort to avert any legal threat that might discourage the adoption of Linux, a group of Microsoft rivals is about to acquire a set of patents formerly owned by the software giant.

Linux is a free open-source operating system that has gained ground against Microsoft’s Windows software among business users, especially in servers, the big back-office computers inside companies. Linux’s fans say the free software is more secure than Windows and, because its blueprint is open to users, can be more easily customized…

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