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The last few years Microsoft sees Linux as a real threat to their business and they are suggesting that companies using the Linux OS might be violating Microsoft patents. Now a group of Microsoft rivals is about to acquire a set of patents formerly owned by Microsoft.  The group, which includes major corporate supporters of open-source software said it's nearing an agreement to acquire 22 patents that Microsoft sold to another organization earlier this year. Though the issue hasn't been tested in court, the patents may relate to Linux. The group called "the Open Invention Network" consists of major companies like IBM, Red Hat & Sony. The group said is close to signing a deal to acquire the patents from AST (Allied Security Trust). AST buys patents to protect its members from patent litigation, provides them with licenses to the technology & then resells the patents on the open market. OIN and AST, whose members include Verizon Communications, Cisco Systems & Hewlett-Packard, could announce an agreement as early as this week, as mentioned in this article from the Wall Street Journal.
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