Microsoft patent deal could leave Novell behind

Waltham, Massachusetts-based Novell might have negotiated the deal with Microsoft for its SUSE Linux Enterprise users, but that has left Microsoft free to accuse the wider Linux user base of infringing its intellectual property. There have already been calls from some open source users and developers to boycott Novell’s products, but perhaps more significantly for Novell, Perens has warned the company that Linux software licensing changes could leave it isolated if it does not renege on the Microsoft deal.

Could this be the stupidest move Novell has ever made? Well probably, but we’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out. Shouldn’t take long.