03.12.08
Breaking Microsoft’s Two-pillar Strategy
“It’s possible, you can never know, that the universe exists only for me. If so, it’s sure going well for me, I must admit.”
–Bill Gates, TIME magazine Vol. 149, No. 2 (13 January 1997)
The following short article comes from a reader, who strives to explain Microsoft’s current strategy.
Microsoft must be very scared. Their monopoly is at stake (or as Eric Raymond says, if they don’t get a monopoly lock-in their options will plummet and everything is over, so they will never behave). Their hopes to keep their monopoly remain in 2 fundamental pillars: Expect them to bury as much money as necessary to sustain these 2 pillars and get their way:
Pillar 1
Microsoft OOXML is a fundamental part of their strategy: Without the fixed revenue stream coming from governments they will suffer much, not only because they will lose one of their biggest sure captive customers (governments) but also because it would open the floodgates to competition. And they don’t stand any chances against GNU/Linux in terms of cost, scalability, security, performance and so forth.
That is why if ISO refuses Microsoft OOXML and governments start to migrate to alternatives, they are doomed.
Their other captive customer (the OEMs) are starting to fail them. As hardware prices are lowered, the ‘Microsoft tax’ is becoming more and more visible. A computer without the extra tax — and the extra requirements to run Windows — is more competitive and successful: Think about the Eee PC. That’s why they opposed so hideously to the OLPC project.
Pillar 2
The other pillar is Software Patents, which is the legal mechanism they are embracing in order to perpetuate their monopoly. Alas, software patents are illegal in Europe and we must be alert on this because they are trying to see them passed in the EU (heavy lobbying behind the scenes to our elected representatives), so this is another field where FLOSS has to fight and fight hard.
“And think about the economic crisis: It was already hard to try to prove their products were worth the ridiculous prices they ask for the licences, but it is getting harder every day.”They have extended a worldwide network of Microsoft Certified Partners, Microsoft certified developers, system administrators and satellite business that sell you anti-virus for systems they make insecure by design, and there is a huge amount of money in the whole game, much of it coming as a sure thing (the OEM tax, governments spending public funds on their products due to the lock-in, etc), and any member of this network can see its business menaced by people like you and I telling everyone that “The emperor just has no clothes”. So expect the fight.
But at the end of the day we know — as well as them — we are right and they are wrong and they know it (I always try to imagine the cognitive dissonance inside Jason Matusow’s head looking at how he bends the truth to serve his employer in his posts). Free Software has just started rolling and it is like a snowball now, but soon it will be an avalanche. Lies will be revealed sooner or later (documents coming out of legal processes show Microsoft has not changed an inch in more of 10 years).
And think about the economic crisis: It was already hard to try to prove their products were worth the ridiculous prices they ask for the licences, but it is getting harder every day.
So, let’s keep up the good fight for software freedom, which is as well our freedom, the society’s and the legacy we can fight from in our reduced field of action — we are not world leaders or powerful entrepreneurs, but into our “everyday people” possibilities we do make a difference — for the generations to come.
Remind yourself of this: Steve Ballmer keeps saying (and last said it just two weeks ago) that Linux is Microsoft’s number one competitor. Remember this. Number one threat. Not Apple. Not IBM. Microsoft is meanwhile approaching debt and it may soon be tipped over the edge only to surprise everyone who previously fell for their constant lies (otherwise known as “embellishments”). █
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.
CoolGuy said,
March 12, 2008 at 1:06 am
The best thing one can do is refuse to use their software.
Boycott is the only way to weaken them. By using m$ sponsered software one empowers them more and more.
Use free software and ask others to do so. Replace proprietory software with FOSS software where ever possible.
“During his first nationwide satyagraha, Gandhi urged the people to boycott British education institutions, law courts, and products (in favor of swadeshi ); to resign from government employment; to refuse to pay taxes; and to forsake British titles and honors. The party was transformed from an elite organization to one of mass national appeal.”
CoolGuy said,
March 12, 2008 at 1:09 am
“It’s possible, you can never know, that the universe exists only for me. If so, it’s sure going well for me, I must admit.”
–Bill Gates, TIME magazine Vol. 149, No. 2 (13 January 1997)
Mad fellow !!! He needs some psychiatrist help to cure him out of his delusion.
Roy Schestowitz said,
March 12, 2008 at 1:22 am
In an earlier interview he spoke about taking over the world. I kid you not, but if only I could give you direct reference (it was in print). It was back in the days when they fought Lotus (you probably know the “tilt into the death spiral” story).
But anyway, the quotes are besides the main point of this post.
SubSonica said,
March 12, 2008 at 2:51 am
In order to fight against software patents (the last weapon remaining for Microsoft and other privative software oligopolists against GNU/Linux, Free(dom) Software and Open Standards) people must know about the problem. Here are some handy resources to begin with the fundamentals:
www.nosoftwarepatents.com (a little bit outdated and european-centric but with lots of basic information about the fundamentals. A good place to begin with)
www.endsoftwarepatents.org (current worldwide campaign with many cases proving how negatively software patents affect US businesses)
http://w2.eff.org/patent/wp.php The “Patent Busting” project by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which provides some nice resources and background on real cases as well.
http://www.groklaw.net/staticpages/index.php?page=20050402193202442#mFOSS Groklaw recopilation of resources about FLOSS and patents.