Google has created its own repositories for its linux software applications.

http://www.google.com/linuxrepositories/index.html

At the moment the only software available is Picasa and Google Desktop.

A good read from Groklaw, it goes on about the the current filed Patent Infringement Claim put forth by IP Innovation LLC.

Patent Infringement Lawsuit Filed Against Red Hat & Novell - Just Like Ballmer Predicted
IP Innovation LLC has just filed a patent infringement claim against Red Hat and Novell. It was filed October 9, case no. 2:2007cv00447, IP Innovation, LLC et al v. Red Hat Inc. et al, in Texas. Where else? The patent troll magnet state.

The first ever patent infringement litigation involving Linux. Here's the patent, for those who can look at it without risk. If in doubt, don't. Here's the complaint [PDF].

It looks like Red Hat isn't going to allow Microsoft to bully them into paying for Patent Protection. Microsoft has stated that linux is infringing on multiple patents and intellectual property. Red Hat provides an enterprise Linux operating system, when you're more or less purchasing continual and automatic updates and the option for Technical Support from RedHat directly. Red Hat previously provided their Variant of Linux for free, and then discontinued it. They now provide a free desktop version called Fedora there are also other variants of Fedora like CentOS which is more of an enterprise operating system very much like Red Hat but not affiliated with Red Hat directly.