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Say That Again

by Mike Masnick

Thu, Sep 18th 2008 9:13am




Filed Under:
intellectual property, licensing, patents, product launch

Companies:
microsoft, novell


When Microsoft Sends Its Legal Dept. To Give Quotes On Product Launches, Something Is Wrong

from the that's-not-development-any-more dept

We've noted the very clear shift in patent strategies at Microsoft over the years -- from a company that hated patents to one that now views them as central to its mission, and often uses them to threaten competitors. However, you want to know when things have really gone too far? It's when the company is sending out the legal department to provide press quotes on a "product launch" that is tied to a technology licensing deal. As Matt Asay points out in the link here, in a story about Novell launching Linux on a Windows virtualization offering, there are two quotes from Microsoft employees -- and both appear to come from the legal department rather than a product role. What used to be an innovative company working on new stuff is apparently turning into a legal firm trying to put tollbooths on innovation. It's sad.

10 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  
    identicon
    Ima Fish, Sep 18th, 2008 @ 9:29am

    "What used to be an innovative company working on new stuff..."

    Wait, I thought this post was about Microsoft?!

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    FTFY

    identicon
    PRMan, Sep 18th, 2008 @ 9:55am

    What used to be an innovative company stealing the best stuff

    FTFY

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    invention != innovation

    identicon
    some old guy, Sep 18th, 2008 @ 10:08am

    Stealing the good stuff from your competitors is innovation people. IMPROVING YOUR PRODUCT IN A MANNER THAT IS MARKET TESTED AND CUSTOMER APPROVED IS NOT A BAD THING!

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Things really went too far

    identicon
    Billy Bathgates, Sep 18th, 2008 @ 10:10am

    when bill gates started a company...

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    Simple Math

    identicon
    J.Locke, Sep 18th, 2008 @ 10:28am

    The patent system benefits whoever can afford the most lawyers.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    wasnt me!, Sep 18th, 2008 @ 10:39am

    well if any one knows how much you can BS with out getting sued it would be the legal department.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  

    More lawyers aren't such a bad thing...

    identicon
    snowburn14, Sep 18th, 2008 @ 11:22am

    Personally, I don't really have too much of a problem with companies having huge legal departments. I just wish they'd devote a little more of their time to what laws THEY might be breaking. I can dream, can't I?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  

    MS Legal

    identicon
    Zag, Sep 19th, 2008 @ 8:37am

    I just finished a stint at Microsoft. Legal has its fingers in everything. They claim the right to review and approve every new idea generated at that company, which is one of the reasons that very few new ideas emerge from Redmond these days. Everyone else there hates the lawyers, but they're afraid of them. All part of the Ballmer legacy, and it's a hell of a way to run a company.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    Charlie, Sep 20th, 2008 @ 7:00am

    It is truly pathetic when a company launches a product BEFORE testing it to see if it works. It seems like someone's more interested in money than its customers.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  

    It's a licensing deal not a product launch

    identicon
    Mark F, Sep 20th, 2008 @ 2:50pm

    Microsoft was announcing a tech licensing deal with Novell not an announcement of new products, hence you get lawyers. When Microsoft rolls out the new products I suspect you would get more quotes from product managers.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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