Editors • About the Site • Comes vs. Microsoft • Using This Web Site • Site Archives • Credibility Index • OOXML • OpenDocument • Patents • Novell • News Digest • Site News • RSS
Boycott Novell

06.08.07

The Xandros Deal Just Doesn’t Make Any Sense

Posted in Microsoft, GNU/Linux, GPL, FOSS, xandros at 11:34 pm by Roy Schestowitz

Red Herring described Microsoft’s Linux deals as “symbiotic”. Yes, it’s right there in the headline. However bizarre it sounds, the subheading makes it clear that they mean by “symbiotic”.

Software giant’s deal with tiny Xandros highlights strategy to conquer open source.

Isn’t that lovely (and obvious)? All those who concede the source are simply opening the gates to damage, which sometimes they get paid to tolerate. It is a case of buying the dismantling of your competitor, which is of course illegal. It’s subversion of the nature of a free market. It’s anti-capitalistic.

I must admit that I don’t understand how the Xandros deal fits GPL provisions. What about the dates, for example? All deals done after March 28th are no longer workable under the final draft of GPLv3. To put it differently, unless this deal was agreed on before March 28th and only announced now, this makes little or no sense. One source suggests that the deal has been negotiated for quite a long time. Was anything in the draft truly intercepted or sabotaged at all? I am not a lawyer and I will admit that Shane is far more familiars with and knowledgeable than me when it comes the legal stuff.

The way I see it, Xandros got penalised the most, but is there anything I fail to see?

If you liked this post, consider subscribing to the RSS feed or join us now at the IRC channel.

Pages that cross-reference this one

Listed from October 23rd 2007 onwards, pingbacks and trackbacks (external) are omitted

Leave a Comment

What Else is New

  1. Reader's Post: The Windows Software Development Minefield, and Mono

    An analysis of Mono -- from Novell and Microsoft to Fedora

  2. Marcel Gagné on Microsoft/Novell (Video)

    New episode that mentions our Web site

  3. Links 20/11/2008: IBM to Buy Transitive, China Helps GNU/Linux Development

    Links for the day

  4. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 19th, 2008 - Part 2

    IRC Log for November 19th, 2008- Part 2

  5. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 19th, 2008 - Part 1

    IRC Log for November 19th, 2008- Part 1

  6. How Bill Gates Sabotaged PCs to Make Business

    The story about OneCare being lumped in (to Windows) brings past memories of Gates' sabotage

  7. Sys-Con is Copyrighting Slightly Modified Press Releases

    Sys-Con turns press releases (about Novell staff in this case) into tweaked press releases with Sys-Con copyrights

  8. Novell's Moonlight Finds Fans: Microsoft Bloggers

    One of Moonlight's (and Mono's) biggest fan base is Microsoft

  9. The Analysts Know Everything

    Here is undeniable proof that analysts should not be listened to

  10. Patents Roundup: Microsoft Sues, Patents Critic Become Nobel Laureate, and More

    An extensive summary of news about software patents

  11. Waggener-Edstrom Behind the 2008 Laptop Bribes, Edelman Behind 2006's

    Waggener-Edstrom was this year's Microsoft 'proxy' for handling the Vista 7 [sic] laptops giveaway

  12. AstroTurfers Pretend to be GNU/Linux Users?

    Site trolls who pretend to be GNU/Linux users but actually use Windows

  13. Analyst Lies and Novell Business Growth

    Analysts refuted for bogus studies that align with their funders' desires

  14. Liability for Software When Life is at Stake

    Hospitals in the UK get shut down for choosing Windows and ceding control to crackers

  15. More Information About Microsoft's and Intel's Crimes Against Customers

    Microsoft helped Intel make $billions at customers' expense (more evidence appears)

  16. An Ode (Eulogy) to ISO

    ISO releases Microsoft's OOXML, so we have a quick stab at it

  17. Links 19/11/2008: Many New GNU/Linux-based Products, Linux Gets OpenGL 3.0

    Links for the day

  18. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 18th, 2008

    IRC Log for November 18th, 2008

  19. Novell Information, in the Words of Anivar Aravind

    A lead protester tells the story about the recent incident in India

  20. We Can't Say “Microvell” Anymore

    An actual company “Microvell” is caught in the crossfire of bad publicity

  21. Calling Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenMoko to Resolve Mono Problem, Not Ignore It

    Sightings of Mono where it seem unnecessary; opposition to it suppressed

  22. Alex Brown Denies Manipulation, Insults Critics of Corruption

    Convenor the OOXML BRM is shamelessly insulting those who criticise the OOXML fiasco

  23. Microsoft Insults the People of China, Oman, the Newly-elected President

    Microsoft's arrogance is spinning out of control as it insults its own customers

  24. Quick Mention: Good Explanation of the Mono Problem

    A concise explanation of what makes Mono dangerous

  25. The Partner Group Smears Free Software Under Complimentary Disguise

    Gartner is spreading substanceless Free/open source software FUD (once again)

  26. Microsoft is “Crashing Parties” Again

    Adobe's product launch cannot go on without Microsoft interference

  27. Novell Removed from List of National Free Software Conference Sponsors?

    Aftermath of impacts of the action against Novell in India

  28. Links 18/11/2008: Flash for GNU/Linux Finally Embraces 64-bit

    Links for the day

  29. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 17th, 2008 - Part 2

    IRC Log for November 17th, 2008 - Part 2

  30. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 17th, 2008 - Part 1

    IRC Log for November 17th, 2008 - Part 1

An invade, divide, and conquer Grand Plan

Novell CEO Ron HovsepianHighlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. Learn more

Xandros founderHighlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. Learn more

Linspire CEO Kevin CarmonyHighlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. Learn more

Hand with moneyHighlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. Learn more

Eric RaymondHighlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. Learn more

XenSource CEOAnalysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy. Learn more

More analysis >>

Recent Posts