01.02.08
Masuran’s on 2007, a Year of Microsoft FUD and Bribes
”What we have observed in recent months is a disturbing pattern of Microsoft briberies.“Sometimes, no matter how strong an accusation may seem, you have to call something what it truly is. What we have observed in recent months is a disturbing pattern of Microsoft briberies. This includes Microsoft briberies in Nigeria, Microsoft’s use of money to influence media, Microsoft bribing bloggers for positive coverage, Microsoft money buying OOXML support from an apathetic industry, and the list goes on and on. It could go on forever if smaller incidents are covered as well.
Briberies aside, there is the long-going intimidation campaign as well, not to mention lawsuits by proxy. Those who still believe that Microsoft has changed it ways must be either blind or overly hopefully, or maybe it’s just that Microsoft knows better how to cover its tracks.
The following new article from Masuran talks about some of the key issues that we have covered in the past year.
FUD and bribes
But there are some clouds at the horizon, the patent ‘agreements’ Microsoft has forced on various Linux distributors being one of them. After Novell gave in, more companies gave in to the FUD spread by Microsoft. After Novell, both Xandros and Linspire have made deals with Microsoft regarding technical interoperability and legal protection. Fortunately, not all companies delivering Linux based solutions are giving in. Canonical, Red Hat, Mandriva and others continue to say no to Microsoft. It’s strange that even though Microsoft won’t give more information on the 235 patents that it believes Linux is violating.
Unfortunately it didn’t stay at spreading FUD, during the ISO approval process of Microsoft’s OOXML wanabee-standard, it became clear that there had been some unfair play by Microsoft. The entire chain of events is to long to list again here but you can read all about them here on masuran.org or the excellent no-ooxml website.
Regardless of all the Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt Microsoft tries to spread, regardless of the bribing of ISO committee members, 2008 will be good for us. We who love freedom and openness, we who like to share information, we who love technology, we’ll have it good.
Let’s end this post on Masuran’s optimistic note. █
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.