[OT] Free software versus software idea patents

[Ethan Furman]

Westley Martínez wrote:
> Also, why aren't Opera and Google criticized for their proprietary
> browsers (Chrome is essentially a proprietary front-end)? Is it because
> their browsers follow web standards, or is it because we have demonized
> Microsoft?

My biggest gripe with Microsoft as that they *don't* follow standards, 
which makes interoperability a nightmare.

~Ethan~