SINGAPORE -- Microsoft has warned Asian governments that they could face patent lawsuits for using the Linux operating system instead of Windows. Speaking to over 130 government officials in Singapore Thursday as part of a five-day visit to the region, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said Linux violates more than 228 patents. The Linux community disputes the charge, Channel NewsAsia reported Friday.
"Someday, for all countries that are entering the World Trade Organization, somebody will come and look for money owing to the rights for that intellectual property," he added.
Linux is a freely available open-source software that is growing in popularity and threatening the global dominance of Microsoft's Windows.
Last month, Singapore's Defense Ministry switched 20,000 PCs to run on open-source software.
China, Japan and South Korea also agreed this year to jointly develop applications running on Linux.
