new details on Suse- Microsoft deal

[Ric Moore]

On Wed, 2006-11-08 at 16:56 -0500, wade barocsi wrote:
> Did anyone see this?
> 
> http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061108-8178.html
> 
> 240 million?  It seems that the deal is alot more than a collaboration
> agreement. 

Looks more like a loan-shark deal, with yearly paybacks to M$ by Novell.

<quote on> "Microsoft will make a one-time payment of $108 million to
Novell, and Novell will turn around and pay at least $40 million each
year back to Microsoft for a minimum of five years (the exact amount
depends on sales of certain Novell products)." Jeeeeez, I'm no coder,
but streetwise I would say Novell is paying large for the loan. 200 mill
payback "minimum" on 108 mill, which is really just a loan? Remember,
Bill lives to play poker, it's his pathology. 

If Novell can't pony up, then Luigi and Tony come 'round to: 
"See whatssup wid cho? You don'nah got tha' vig? Wassamatta you?! 
<slap! slap!> I take-ah you house, ya bum!." <slap! slap! again>

Anybody else see this? If Microsoft gets their hands on the patents that
Caldera / Canopy Group / Novell bought from Digital, then there might be
trouble on the horizon? Are they owned by Canopy Group or Novell now?
Someone is gonna take an unwanted high-colonic before this is over. I
just wonder what shoe will drop on who, how and when. Anyone got a clue?
Ric

    
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