08.01.08
How Many Lobbyists (and Congresspersons) Does $2.3 Million Per Quarter Buy?
$2.3 million just a lower bound
We wrote about lobbying earlier on in the day. Now watch some newly-released figures about Microsoft lobbying. The numbers continue to increase (and recall that severe cases from the OOXML fiasco include briberies and political influence in several nations). Additionally, watch how a merger is being stifled at the moment by the investment arm that manages Bill Gates’ fortune.
BGI, the investment office that manages the assets of Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) founder Bill Gates, urged market leader Waste Management Inc. (WMI) to abandon its proposed merger with rival Republic Services Inc. (RSG).
Gates is still a very busy man these days, but he keeps a lower profile. █




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.