Q&A: Ballmer, McNealy tout landmark tech-pact
crn.com | at | by Mike
Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and Sun Chairman and Chief Executive Scott McNealy on Friday spoke with the press about the landmark, ten-year technology sharing pact the two companies signed, ending a long-standing technology and legal feud. Below are excerpts from the question and answer session with the press.
Q: What were the patent issues between the two companies? Are we going to see a merged version of Java and C Sharp?
Ballmer: We haven't any kind of patent regime between our two companies. We are both big developers of intellectual property. We both own lots of patents. In a sense, it seems it was impossible to create a technical collaboration framework without having some framework in which both companies could be assured that they have got the right protections looking back and forward with respect to the other's intellectual property.