It's not unofficial reports anymore. Even the Wall Street Journal writes about it right now.

Microsoft Corp. is seriously exploring significant work force reductions that could be announced as early as next week, in a sign that the weak economy is prompting tough decisions even at one of the steadiest ships in the technology industry.

One must remember that Microsoft not only took companies out of business using crime, but it also targeted individuals whom it had tossed out of their jobs for not bowing to Microsoft's desires. According to this new report from India [hat tip: Anivar], Microsoft is not only suspected to have done this in Kerala but in other 'disobedient' countries too. People begin to confess as an increasing amount of antitrust material shows what Microsoft did in India and similar experiences are publicly shared in the media.

It is not only in Kerala that free software exponents are seeing red signal in government. Last year, similar developments took place in Brazil and Argentina, the Latin American countries where free software movement has made a major headway.

The ouster of M. Arun, special officer for International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS) and Joseph C Mathew, IT advisor to the Chief Minister, from their positions can be read along with the ousters of free software exponents from Brazilian and Argentinian governments. There were allegations that the expulsion of free software proponents in those countries was at the instance of Microsoft.

In March last year, Carlos Achiary, director of the National Office of Tecnologia Inform tica (ONTI), and Jose Carllinni, coordinator of the Forum of Computer Science People, were asked to resign from their posts by the Argentinian Government. Both of them were doing a commendable service in Argentina to propagate free software.

Those who call for sympathy for Microsoft must remember what this company has done to other companies (and individual people) for decade. With gradual decline of unethical jobs and unethical operations that harm society, there is hope that the industry -- and society as a whole -- will noticeably improve. ⬆

"I have lost my sleep and peace of mind for last two months over these distasteful activities by Microsoft."

--Professor Deepak Phatak

Related posts (reverse chronological:

• Microsoft Already Drops Clues About Layoffs
• Hard Week for Microsoft, Next Week Likely Harder
• Selling Out to a Company on the Decline
• Hold on a Second, We're Not the Bad Guys
• Noted: Indian Express and The Times About 15,000 Microsoft Jobs at Risk (Updated)
• Brokerage Firm Asks Microsoft to Fire Over 9,000 Employees
• On Being Rich... On Paper
• Microsoft Under the Scalpel
• Microsoft Layoffs Worse Than Initially Reported
• Quick Mention: More Layoffs at Microsoft
• Eye on Microsoft: Feeling the Pinch Again
• Microsoft Layoffs Actually Began Years Ago, More Likely to Come