Enough about Microsoft already [LWN.net]

Enough about Microsoft already

Posted Nov 22, 2003 10:40 UTC (Sat) by Peter (guest, #1127)
In reply to: Out with the pump and dump theory. by rev
Parent article: A new source of anti-GPL FUD

Now that a second front against the GPL is opened I know this is Redmond at work.

Oh come on. You really believe Microsoft is the only party with something to lose if GPL software continues its upward spiral? Microsoft may be at the center of the proprietary software ecology, but there are all kinds of other people who stand to lose just as much (proportionally speaking).

(Log in to post comments)

Enough about Microsoft already

Posted Nov 22, 2003 13:26 UTC (Sat) by rev (guest, #15082) [Link]

Where did I say that it is only Redmond at work? However, I do observe that it is primarily Redmond that has been vocal in spewing anti-GPL propaganda.
Redmond has the most to loose: its monopoly.

However, theoretically, you are right, it may be other parties, excluding Redmond, that fear the GPL that are involved in this, or none other than SCO. Given this SCO license purchase by MS dating back a few months, however, MS is, at least loosely, involved.

But if I where MS, seeing that my FUD campaign thus far has failed, I would do do something similar to this, it is basically the only option I would have.

I have no direct evidence that this is a MS FUD campaign. However, to my judgement, it is the simplest theory that explains all of what is happening, including the comparative silence on the part of MS in its anti Linux communications. So I'll keep it as my working hypothesis. But I'm willing to change my opinion should facts arise that are not consistent with my hypothesis or a theory is propoesed that is even simpler and consistent with reality.

Enough about Microsoft already

Posted Nov 24, 2003 20:16 UTC (Mon) by cpm (guest, #3554) [Link]

No, but they are the biggest, and they are
the only ones they care about.

All SCO parties deny any MS involvement,
but the money started to flow directly
after the unix license fees were announced
and MS ponied up. MS didn't bat an eye
and wrote the check. The the trouble really
started.

It'll take a lot more convincing than just
a SCO mouthpiece making blanket denials
to get me to think that this was purely
coincidental.

Also, seems I remember some docs leaked from MS just
as the totally bogus settlement in the antitrust
case was comming down, that indicated that linux
and the gpl were M$'s biggest worry. There was futher
talk about how M$ was going to battle with Linux
via proxy. Then september happened.