03.03.08
Microsoft and Novell Try Freebies to Lure the Naive into Patent Traps
Poor demand requires incentive programs
Novell and Microsoft, working jointly as usual, still try to devour more businesses and lock them down with software patent liabilities. They even set up a Web site to achieve this.
The demand for such sellouts appear to be very poor if the following new marketing trick is anything to go by. The companies now distribute prizes in order for people to merely register and maybe even receive some information. Here is the article from Ars Technica.
Answer 5 questions on Micro-vell, receive a 2GB USB drive”
A contender for one of the most controversial things Microsoft has done, the software giant’s pact with Novell caused many to fall of their seat when it was announced in 2006. Many were appalled or disgusted with the deal, but there was nothing that could be done to stop it.
[…]
A handful of companies is hardly enough to make the alliance worth it. Thus, the two want more information from businesses on what they need from a Windows and Linux partnership.
As you can see at the end, this whole charade is proving to be somewhat of a failure. There is some more information here.
But there is also a little something something involved for the visitors of the website. Namely, the chance to get a 2 GB free USB drive just for registering.
“REGISTER for your 2GB Moreinterop USB bracelet, pre-loaded with more information, including a video and Gartner Report (subject to availability),” is the promise from Microsoft and Novell (via Digg). Visitors also have the possibility of downloading the Creating Business Value Brochure, as well as the Building Bridges White Paper, both resources focused on the Windows-Linux interoperability.
Digg is mentioned here, but there is total lack of interest and just a couple of snide remarks. It pretty much indicates that Microsoft and Novell haven’t much to show. Mind the presence of Microsoft’s left-hand puppet, the Partner Gartner Group [1, 2, 3]. One has to wonder how much they get paid to promote this charade. █
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.