09.23.07
Novell’s Identity Crisis Makes Linux an Expensive Second-class Windows
Previously, Shane talked about Novell’s mixed source identity crisis. Today, let’s focus on another aspect, which is Novell’s assimilation to Microsoft. This makes Linux an obedient, passive second-class citizen rather than a leader.
To reiterate some old (yet very important) points:
- Fact: Novell hires .NET developers
- Fact: Novell makes its Linux desktop more .NET-oriented
- Fact: Miguel de Icaza, who heads the Mono project, acknowledges that patents are a concern
- Fact: Miguel de Icaza, a Novell VP, opines that OOXML is a “superb standard”
- Fact: Novell gets access to Microsoft source code (visibility)
- Fact: Novell works on interoperability in isolation with Microsoft
- Fact: Novell perceives patent ‘protection’ as a competitive advantage
- Fact: Novell implements Moonlight, which harms Linux by giving the illusion that Linux is fully supported (it is not)
- Fact: Novell’s implementation of an OOXML translator have assisted Microsoft’s fight against ODF policies in the United States and elsewhere
- Fact: Novell’s exclusionary work on ‘interoperability’ has helped Microsoft escaped scrutiny in the EU
- Fact: Novell’s exclusionary work on ‘interoperability’ has provided Microsoft with an excuse that helps them evade federal oversight in the US
- Fact: Novell pays Microsoft for Linux and open source software.
[Brad Smith, Microsoft:] But, as you’ll see in the press release it makes clear that on the patent side, we dealt with both of these sides of the equation. We dealt with the need for an up-front balancing payment, a balancing payment that runs from Microsoft to Novell, reflecting among other things the large relevant volume of the products that we have shipped. And you’ll see, as well, an economic commitment from Novell to Microsoft that involves a running royalty, a percentage of revenue on open source software shipped under the agreement
If you want Linux to stay Linux (as in “Linux is not Windows”), then do not choose Novell. Playing catch-up with Microsoft is the worst possible strategy. Paying Microsoft for Linux is a sin.
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.
anonymous said,
September 24, 2007 at 6:02 am
/me yawns.
Old news.
Move along, nothing new or interesting. Everyone else moved on weeks ago.
Get over it (of course, it is possible Novell did all of this just to annoy you but you what? I doubt it).
vexorian@gmail.com said,
September 24, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Your attempt to make me ignore the issues caused by Novell’s behavior has failed.
Moving along would only let them continue the assaults on open source or even get worse, someone has to denounce this stuff, you know. Ignoring it won’t make it right.