Linus Torvalds says Microsoft could be violating more patents than Linux
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Linus Torvalds, founder and chief-programmer of Linux, has lashed out at Microsoft, after Microsoft’s claims that Linux violated some 235 patents that they hold.
Microsoft’s claims were that the free, open-source software, including Linux, violates 235 patents owned by Microsoft.
Linus Torvalds made up his mind to speak out to his heart’s content, against the “boss”, Microsoft.
Linus Torvalds reportedly told that there is a better chance that Microsoft violates a good many more patents than Linux OSes do.
He also suggested slyly that if and when Windows OSes’ source codes could be examined by programmers around the world, Microsoft might find itself in a rather uncomfortable situation.
Wow! Strong words by Mr.Torvalds. Go Linux, er…… I mean Linus 
He also said that the basics of software were laid out more than four decades ago, and their patents, if any would have expired by now.
Crux of the (Linux) matter
Let me lay this out for you, if you didn’t understand that part about examination of source code.
There are two broad classification of softwares - closed source and open-source.
In open-source software, you are allowed to examine, understand and modify the source code of the program. In essence, this allows freelance programmers to build software for their own uses, or release it for public use. Examples include software from the Mozilla foundation - Firefox and Thunderbird, and Linux operating systems.
Closed source software are mostly commercial - those glossy softwares sporting beautifully designed user-interfaces. They are closed source, meaning that only they can modify or even examine source code. Examples include software from corporates like Microsoft(Windows), Adobe(Photoshop and Creative Suite) and Symantec(Norton AntiVirus).
Until recently, open-source were crude, and reserved for uber-geeks. But now, with the advent of easy-to-use, newbie-friendly software, open-source software is slowly coming out of that shell. This is what worries Microsoft, and is the principal reason for their controversial claims.
Linux is under intense scrutiny, because their source code is freely distribuited. Microsoft, among others, can take a peek inside. However, Windows software are closed source. Linus Torvalds says that if Microsoft were to reveal the source code, Linux fans may turn up several patent infringements by Microsoft.
