11.29.06
Q&A with Ron Hovsepian
In an interview with Computerworld, Ron Hovsepian gives some background on the genesis and workings of the Microsoft-Novell deal. Hovsepian states that the deal began in search of virtualization, and that initially Microsoft’s position was that Linux could be virtualized within Windows, but not Windows within Linux.
Also, a little more on the motivation behind the deal, besides interoperability I suppose:
All I cared about was, I lost a deal with a large retailer to Microsoft for the first time about 12 or 18 months ago. It was going to be an all-Linux deal, and I lost it because they were unduly influenced, in my opinion, to be fearful of these [IP and indemnity issues]. From my point of view that was really too bad, because Linux lost. Then I watched it happen three more times.
Apparently it is a good thing that Ron hit the delete button on his Open Letter to the Community, since he refuses to accuse Microsoft of spreading Fear Uncertainty and Doubt (words he apparently initially intended to use), actually saying that Microsoft has been “operating genuinely” at the executive level in regards to their IP statements.
Do you think Microsoft is spreading a lot of fear, uncertainty and doubt about the risk of IP violations if companies adopt Linux?
They were sharing their position in the marketplace as they saw it through their lens.
Funny how it isn’t FUD when you are in the unique position to benefit from Microsoft’s fearmongering about potential “IP” violations in Linux. Hovsepian also said that he was “disappointed” by Ballmer’s “Undisclosed Balance Sheet” statement, but did not want to overreact since he knows how things can be taken out of context.
One topic Hovsepian had little to comment on was the upcoming GPL3, and the possibility that it will isolate Novell from the very community from which they derive their product. But, Richard Stallman did have some more to say regarding Novell and GPL3:
Stallman said the FSF would have no hesitation in using GPLv3 to nobble the deal. “Definitely! This deal is a threat to the freedom of the free software community, because its effect is to make GPL-covered software non-free in practical terms,” he said.
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.
boxopen said,
November 29, 2006 at 5:58 am
The best part to define the (im)moral Hovsepian/Novell “values” is in this SAME paragraph:
“WE DO NOT SEE ANY infringements, and WE ARE NOT GOING TO AGREE TO ANY…
… WE SAW THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT the math, the balance of trade was $108 million to us and $40 MILLION TO THEM.”
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/112806-novell-ceo-on-the-microsoft.html?page=3
Even LYING the scumbag can’t do better than that? Bye Novell.
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