05.06.08
Is SCO and Its Anti-Linux Agenda Relocated to Microsoft Headquarters?
“MICROSOFT IS LIKE AN ELEPHANT ROLLING AROUND, SQUASHING ANTS”
We previously showed the connections between SCO and Microsoft and later discussed Stephen Norris [1, 2, 3] (briefly summarised in this post). I published an article about it too. For those who are not familiar with this saga, the incomplete gist of it all is as follows:
- Microsoft paid SCO for ‘rights’ which SCO does not own, thereby assisting SCO’s lawsuits against Linux and companies that use it
- Microsoft sort of passed money to SCO, via BayStar (recommendation of investment)
- A hugely surprising investment plan in the already-bankrupt SCO came out of nowhere. The source of the money had connections revealed that lead to Bill Gates’ investments in the middle east.
- Information that is conflicting, bizarre or contradictory was found and then quickly removed by the investing party that was accused, without as much as an acceptable explanation
The latest news or — shall we assume — the latest development in this alleged proxy fight against GNU/Linux (one among many if true, some of which are not even secret), is the appointment of a senior SCO man who found himself in Microsoft. His role there is particularly interesting (highlights in red).
…SCO once said of Gupta that “he is able to laser-focus on product deliverables.” If half-truths in the interest of competitive strategy are what Microsoft wants in terms of deliverables, Microsoft couldn’t do better than to pull in the SCO team.
Disappointing. Shame on you, Microsoft.
Groklaw has plenty more details.
Guess where Sandeep Gupta landed after he left SCO? If I put a blindfold on you and told you to point on the map, you’d still guess Microsoft, wouldn’t you? And you’d be right. From January, that is where he found a soft landing, as Director, Technical Competitive Strategy of the Server & Tools Division.
[…]
This was back in 2004. They may think we all forgot, but Groklaw never forgets. And if I need to remind you, the SCO v. IBM case is yet to be tried. So Microsoft has hired Gupta midstream.
Here’s what another famous computer expert, Brian W. Kernighan, said after reviewing Gupta’s work:
Furthermore, in places, Mr. Gupta’s conclusions of similarity depend on his selecting isolated lines of code from disparate places and putting them together as if contiguous blocks of code were involved (which they are not) and important differences did not exist (which they do).
So. You may draw your own conclusions as to why he is being rewarded with a plum position at Microsoft after a performance so stunningly rebutted. Mine is that he knows too much and that he fits in perfectly.
Mind Novell’s possible role as ‘the next SCO’. This is something that we last mentioned just 3 days ago. With SCO’s masterminds inside Microsoft and with UNIX ownership (via the increasingly-dependent Novell), Microsoft could try to pull similar tricks. Instead of a proxy or shell company like Acacia [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10], ‘mother ship’ Microsoft could get its work done with the cushion that is a better bank balance.
After last year’s “patent terrorism” it would probably be naive to let this one slide silently. Never say never? Well, at least preparation by exposition of a lie or a plot can help. █
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.