02.04.08
Quick Mention: Boycott Trend Micro is On
Boycotts getting popular?
Only briefly did we mention the Trend Micro-Barracuda confrontation, but there’s an update on this situation which is worth mentioning. There is an open call for participation in action against Trend Micro.
Anti virus developer Trend Micro accused Barracuda Networks of patent infringement but what they really did was attacking the users of ClamAV free anti virus software with a bogus patent. ¶
Given the nature of the accusation (a poor patent as well as software patent used against Free software), this action against Trend Micro seems justified. It’s another case of a struggling company clinging onto man-made intellectual monopolies and trying to find haven in the courts. This didn’t work too well for SCO. █
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.