03.28.08
Microsoft’s 90th-minute Software Patent Lie for OOXML
Talk about timing.
Yesterday, Groklaw exposed yet another serious gap in Microsoft’s so-called ‘Open’ Specification Promise. This didn’t stop Microsoft from pushing onto the press yet another article and claim that everyone is safe. Well, unless that “everyone” happens to be Microsoft’s #1 competitor, of course. Here is the article in question, in case you want to see for yourself how Microsoft ‘writes the news’. Watch how they address the wrong question:
Microsoft: We won’t sue over future OOXML versions
Microsoft has assured coders that its Open Specification Promise — a pledge that it won’t sue developers using OOXML — will apply to future versions of the document format.
[…]
Linux Australia president Stewart Smith said Microsoft’s announcement has helped to allay fears over one issue that the SLFC raised but did not deal with its biggest concern: that the OSP-covered specifications are not compatible with the General Public License (GPL).
Related articles (external):
- IP Issues with OOXML (DIS 29500)
- By Metes and Bounds
- Defensive Patents, Other Fairy Tales
- Microsoft patents by Brian Jones
- Patent threat looms large over OOXML
- Cyberlaw OOXML Seminar 14 December
- ISO warned about possible patent violations of DIS29500 (aka OOXML)
Related and recent posts:
- Microsoft OOXML: Patents, Patents, Patents (...x14)
- Microsoft Carries on Lying and Excluding FOSS with OOXML Software Patents
- Fraser-Moleketi, South African Minister, Slams OOXML and Software Patents
Main takeway: OOXML remains a case against the GNU GPL, not just against competition at large. Microsoft never chose to correct this, so it’s a question of design, the engineering of exclusion. █
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.