02.14.08
Has Microsoft Just Pulled Another Goldfarb (BayStar)? (Updated)
When I first saw this i thought it was a hoax, but it apparently ain’t so.
Embattled Unix vendor SCO may get a new lease on life, thanks to a $100 million infusion aimed at helping it emerge from bankruptcy and pursue its controversial legal claims.
The financing comes from Stephen Norris Capital Partners (SNCP), which will take a controlling interest in SCO as part of the deal.
Why would anyone invest in such a company which has no prospects?
In the past, Microsoft used a similar type of company to attack Linux by proxy. For more information about that, start here. █
Update: SCO’s new business plan is pretty much litigation against Linux.
According to the same release, Stephen Norris, managing partner for SNCP, claims that SNCP has a business plan for SCO “that will enable the company to see SCO’s legal claims through to their full conclusion.”
It’s natural to assume that hundreds or thousands of people already try to find out the relationship (if any) between Microsoft and Stephen Norris. As shown above (once you follow the link), Microsoft used a venture capitalist, Larry Goldfarb, to inject money into SCO. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Microsoft’s cash reserves are close to running out, so the timing seems right.
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.