05.15.07
Two Writers Explain Why Microsoft Can Never Win This Battle
Readers are probably aware of the fact that we have recently deviated from our focus on Novell. Nevertheless, Novell, being an ally of Microsoft in its attempt to create a ‘protection racket’ axis, is partly responsible. We shall continue to address the urgent issue at hand because some myths must be dispelled. Yesterday, headlines from Redmond-oriented magazines already appeared to herald the looming death of Free software, joining similar attempts to demoralise.
Rumours of Free software/Linux death are greatly exaggerated and simply made up. The truth is, Microsoft’s latest acts reveal its great fear of what’s to come. It is a great endorsement and validation of the power and inevitability of GNU/Linux in the broad mainstream.
Matt Asay explains that Microsoft very well understands that business models have changed and are continuing to change rapidly. Its recent actions are a miserable attempt to stop the natural evolution of industrial trends.
The Microsoft patent FUD isn’t about intellectual property. It’s about Microsoft’s desire to continue making money the way it always has.
Those who attempt to hinder or fight progression are doomed to spend their resources and be left in the past with empty pockets. Just ask Darl McBride. Free software cannot be defeated, as Daniel Eran would rightfully argue. He calls it an “unwinnable war”.
How is an untouchable superpower defeated? In many cases, it foolishly engages itself in an unwinnable war and simply consumes itself.
Microsoft, threatened by the encroachment of competition from open source, has long waged a detached propaganda war against free software and in particular Linux, but has recently escalated its conflict into a full blown attack.
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As Microsoft begins waging its all out war against Linux, how far wil its popularity decline? And will that war be conveniently limited to a far away land, or might it cause fear and distress to Microsoft’s own customers? Would Microsoft’s own customers be targeted as potential enemies in massive, RIAA-style crackdowns?
When asked by Fortune whether Microsoft would ever seek to “sue its customers for royalties, the way the record industry has,” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer answered, “That’s not a bridge we’ve crossed, and not a bridge I want to cross today on the phone with you.”
That should certainly scare the Windows out of Microsoft’s customers.
Another interesting analysis says that Microsoft loses either way.
You can’t defeat this community so why not joining us on the equal footing, on the terms which govern the rest of this community, a true fair play, a new free world in which both you and us can coexist without trying to subvert each others’ chances, a true free market. You can’t be that adverse towards the concept of a free market, right? The time of your monopoly is over. If you can’t deal with that, you deserve to be defeated in the great patent armageddon.
It’s your choice, Microsoft, it’s your choice.
The future looks bright for Free software. Microsoft has entered its ‘SCO stage’ in life. It’s menopause.
