Microsoft's Ballmer: "open source is not free"

Remember back in November when Steve Ballmer bullishly claimed that Linux uses Microsoft intellectual property? Though many at the time dismissed Ballmer's comments as idle posturing during a period of heated exchange with Novell, it appears that the Microsoft CEO isn't quite ready to let go of the notion that Linux users owe Microsoft something. "I would not anticipate that we make a huge additional revenue stream from our Novell deal, but I do think it clearly establishes that open source is not free, and open source will have to respect the intellectual-property rights of others, just as any other competitor will," Ballmer said in a presentation to analysts in New York last week. It remains to be seen if Ballmer--who has yet to reveal exactly how open-source software infringes on Microsoft property--intends to simply intimidate the Linux community or if some form of legal recourse is being weighed in Redmond. Would Microsoft really stoop so low?

For more on Ballmer's comments:
- see this CNET report

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