10.03.07
Could a Microsoft Appeal Deny Fee/Patent-free Interoperability?
Is is worth keeping an eye on Europe where Microsoft recently lost its appeal and was requested to disclose proprietary protocols — broken bridges which it had maintained in order to stifle competition. The latest word from Europe indicates that there is a chance of Microsoft procrastinating by letting the judgment go on forever in the courts.
The Sept. 17 ruling by the EU’s Court of First Instance means “there is a clear set of guidance for us, and we move on in that environment,” he [for Microsoft] told lawmakers.
Here is another article on this matter and one which praises Thomas Vinje for his important win.
The Clifford Chance partner who acted in support of the EC’s ruling that Microsoft had abused its dominance
Microsoft has not yet responded to requests for documentation (or at least so it seems). Unless this returns to the courtroom, all Linux distributors will be able to receive the benefits that Novell paid for, but for free. This would render parts of Novell’s deal moot.
Related articles:
- Users split over naked PCs
- Free market for free software
- Unbundling Microsoft Windows
- Free-market think tank urges EU to unbundle Windows
- Ruling: Acer must refund purchase price of preinstalled software that is not being used
- French consumer group attacks PC software bundling
- Red Hat tells EU to sock it to Microsoft
- Red Hat’s Szulik comments on EU vs. Microsoft
- Red Hat Advocates True Interoperability and Competition
- Microsoft Must Share Code With Rivals
- Halloween Memo I Confirmed and Microsoft’s History on Standards
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.