03.28.07
Has the Media Been Poisoned Against Free Software?
We previously highlighted the way in which the press mischaracterises Linux. We also wondered it this was deliberate. Yesterday we even mentioned what appears to be a coordinated effort to portray the “Linux community” negatively, as though it is a bunch of zealots and vandals filled with greed. This pattern seems to repeat itself.
ChangeLog: Reuters gets it wrong, again
According to Reuters, the “Linux camp” is trying to “sabotage” the deal between Microsoft and Novell. One wonders if Reuters has a special interest in slinging misinformation about the Linux community, or just deeply misunderstands the Linux community and can’t be bothered to get it right.
In February, Reuters’ Jim Finkle reported that “Novell could be banned from selling Linux.” Our own Joe Barr gave the article a good Fisking, noting that Finkle is conflating the open source and free software communities, and that Finkle fails to understand that the Free Software Foundation (FSF) can do little to prevent Novell from shipping Linux. At best (or worst, depending on your point of view), the FSF could make it difficult to ship future versions of software it controls the copyright to.
Is somebody pulling strings in the media? This is no longer amusing, especially when Free software advocates are equated to terrorists. Steretypes make bigots. How about this quote from a Microsoft analyst?
“I have a hard time seeing the [Linux] Zealots as any different from terrorist… I strongly believe that if September 11 showed us anything, it was that zealots” — Rob Enderle
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.