Microsoft's Steve Ballmer is out on the warpath again, spreading Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt about potential patent infringement issues in Linux. This time, he's targeting Red Hat specifically. But the undercurrent is the same as it has been in the past: if you use Linux, watch out! We may be coming for you with high-priced legal guns in the middle of the night!

It seemed like the message was getting toned down for a while there, but apparently something has got Ballmer running scared again; or perhaps it's a more low key approach, banging the drums slowly, trying to create a pervasive undercurrent of distrust in Linux, or heck, anything non-Microsoft in origin.

I've discussed this in the past, at greater length, on my blog here. Several things have changed since I wrote that; SCO bankrupted themselves trying to enforce such patents, there has been some evidence that Microsoft just might find it worthwhile to start suing customers, and Steve has rolled out some more specific numbers on the alleged infringement (implying-though hardly proving-that someone has actually sat down and identified actual infringements in open source software).

Nonetheless, I can't be bothered to take this too seriously. It's an annoying tactic that may have some effect among the poorly educated, but it's one that is likely to have little long-term effect as Ballmer keeps spewing accusations without evidence or action. If they actually file a lawsuit, then it will be time to talk mitigation.