06.25.08
Microsoft Goes Fighting GNU/Linux in Open Source Conference
When Microsoft attends FOSS events, it’s all about its proprietary stack
day ago we warned about Microsoft consuming even an open source conference in the Philippines, having viciously fought against it over there. It must be relying on people’s short memory span. We also warned that it would, as usual, deliver its own self-serving messages to the crowd. People among the audience were not impressed.
Microsoft to developers: ‘Open source is a choice
[…]
At the Cebu open source summit, Microsoft was telling developers it is ready to help them go “primetime.”
Microsoft’s presence in the summit drew quite an impact, if not harmless ribbing. In a presentation by noted IT entrepreneur Winston Damarillo, mentioning indicators that open source is ready for primetime deployment, one answer reads: “The number of times in a month Microsoft says: ‘We support open source.’”
“Do it with Microsoft.”
“Do it with Windows.”
“OOXML should be your format of choice.”
“Forget about freedom. Don’t touch the GPL.”
Yes, Microsoft has plans. It has a new strategy. See yesterday’s post for more details. █
“People that use Red Hat, at least with respect to our intellectual property, in a sense have an obligation to compensate us.”
–Steve Ballmer
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.