01.16.08
Microsoft May Have Pulled Another SCO
Litigation as a business strategy
Last month we showed how Microsoft attacks Google by proxy in the courtroom. Microsoft makes this very visible and there are other similar examples where there is just speculation and guessing. We happen to have also mentioned IBM in this context and from such seemingly-far-fetched speculation comes more certainty.
Over on IT Jungle, I just read an interesting story about how Microsoft is (by proxy) cleverly using the same law that was just smacked over its head for Windows market dominance against IBM’s mainframe base in Europe.
The story, by Hesh Wiener, is a fascinating look into the world of litigation-as-business-strategy, and details the complaint filed by Platform Solutions (PSI) against IBM for violating Article 82 of the European Commission (EC) Treaty. The complaint was filed, according to a Dec. 18 Reuters story, way back on Oct. 19.
That would be another SCO. Microsoft may be attacking IBM using other smaller companies. This is pretty major and we will certainly explore and cover this in the future. Do remember that IBM is gradually moving to GNU/Linux on the mainframe (I published an article about this just a fortnight ago) and that is just what’s being fought against in Europe.
Speaking of proxies, the OOXML/ODF report which journalists talk about at the moment was apparently put together by a Microsoft proxy. We continue to gather evidence. There is also a good rebuttal [PDF]. █
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.