09.18.07
What’s Next for the Ruling in Europe? (Updated)
Europe has made its decision about Microsoft and the usual suspects have woken up and stood up to defend Microsoft. Such suspects include ACT and CompTIA, which are quite infamous (not famous) for their financial affairs with Microsoft and the blatant anti-Linux, anti-FSF, anti-Free software, and anti-EC biases (proven over the years). Actions that might follow this ruling in Japan and the United States will be particularly interesting, not to mention the effects on Windows Vista, which is known to have broken some of the rulings. As for Novell, there appears to be no exceptional impact, but Novell surely added to Microsoft’s legal arsenal (defenses). Microsoft apparently intends to appeal now, after early claims to the contrary have been dismissed.
Update: here is an article which is worth paying attention to.
Microsoft Must Share Code With Rivals
Microsoft lost its appeal of a European antitrust order Monday that obliges the technology giant to share communications code with rivals…
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.
Eric Gearhart said,
September 18, 2007 at 7:44 am
“As for Novell, there appears to be no exceptional impact, but Novell surely added to Microsoft’s legal arsenal (defenses).”
Huh? What the hell does Novell have to do with this ruling?
I’m starting to wonder if you guys aren’t sponsored by Microsoft in attempts to further divide the Linux community. You’re definitely not helping.
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 18, 2007 at 10:09 am
Eric,
See:
http://boycottnovell.com/2006/11/24/what-about-the-ec-ruling/
http://boycottnovell.com/2007/03/29/samba-and-novell/
There are about a dozen more. Novell was explicitly mentioned in these debates about the European ruling.