Wouldn't it be nice if we could be absolutely sure Microsoft would not be able to sue users or companies using free software for patent violations?
I cannot be sure they won't sue people for anything they have patented that's used in Mono.
I cannot be sure they won't sue people for anything they have patented that's used in Mono.
With the current state of patents, you really can't be sure of anything. Even SUN got sued by Kodak for Java.
I have a problem with the arguments for "free software" in general. People say that RMS is usually right, but being anti-Mono because you're pro-freedom, is like saying you're anti-abortions because you're pro-life. The state of affairs is never black and white like that.
As far as I've understood, they were just stances and FUD. They haven't made any specific claims. That's as vague as it can get.
Some info on the latest patent workaround suggested for the kernel: http://lwn.net/Articles/338941/
They claim to have another 250 such patents.