05.18.07
FSF Joins Anti-FUD Front as More Novell-type Deals Are Sought by Microsoft
Building legal shields that your foe can see might have a negative effect on your rival’s morale. Having got the confirmed support from OIN, the Linux Foundation, and a several others, the Free Software Foundation enters the scene as well.
Following the attacks earlier this week by Microsoft on the free software movement the Free Software Foundation has set up a new activist wing to fight back.
Microsoft no longer seems motivated to sue. Most would argue it never intended to and, in fact, this has been confirmed by a spokesman/executive of theirs. Yesterday, a field expert argued that Microsoft’s assault is nothing more than an attempt to pressure vendors into Novell-type deals, maybe even collecting ‘innovation tax’, Capone style!
Microsoft’s recent Linux patent violation tirade, courtesy of reporting done by Fortune magazine, might have all the markers of an SCO trial repeat, but IP attorney John Rabena doesn’t think it will end up that way.
Instead, Microsoft is probably jockeying for position to generate more Novell-type agreements with the bigger Linux players, said Rabena, an intellectual property attorney based in the Washington, D.C., offices of Sughrue Mion.
Bear in mind that Microsoft not only uses Novell as precedence. Recently, it mentioned Samsung and Fuji-Xerox as well. We must not let them build a little ‘portfolio’. GPLv3 will put an end to this (either way).
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.