12.17.09
Microsoft Smears — Not Embraces — Free Software Projects
“I would love to see all open source innovation happen on top of Windows.”
–Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO
Summary: Microsoft’s assault extends to the entire LAMP stack (and above), not just GNU/Linux
MICROSOFT has been pretending that it is willing to play nice with AMP as long as it’s not preceded by anything other than “W” (Windows). That’s a lie and it provides insight into what Microsoft would do had there been no choice for Free software developers but to deploy on Windows (Netscape's lesson). In line with its ally Blackboard, for example, the company has been trying to stick Microsoft hooks into Moodle in the form of a plug-in [1, 2, 3]. And yet, as the following article shows, Microsoft has begun treating Drupal like it treats GNU/Linux.
MICROSOFT HAS PULLED an advert telling punters to “Forget Drupal”, which is an open source website software framework and content management system, and has said sorry to the community for the aggressive ad.
The managers at Microsoft probably did not regret what they did. They only regretted the backlash, which was apparently worse than they had anticipated. Let this teach develop[ers that Microsoft attacks not only the "L" in LAMP. Microsoft's xenophobia just extends to just about anything that’s not made by Microsoft. That’s why they promote Mono so much.
Matt Asay takes the “Microsoft apologist” hat and spins the incident above. █
“Open source is an intellectual-property destroyer [...] I can’t imagine something that could be worse than this for the software business and the intellectual-property business. I’m an American; I believe in the American way, I worry if the government encourages open source, and I don’t think we’ve done enough education of policymakers to understand the threat.”
–Jim Allchin, President of Platforms & Services Division at Microsoft
NotZed said,
December 17, 2009 at 10:57 pm
The one current comment on the inquirer article sums it up pretty well.
“Abusive relationship?
Awww come on Drupal, baby, you know I didn’t mean it. You know I say stupid things when I’ve been drinking, I don’t even remember saying that about you. Forgive me?
Love,
Microsoft
XOXOXO
posted by : Deek, 16 December 2009″
Roy Schestowitz Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 4:25 am
Here is what the founder wrote (maybe it’s why Microsoft sent flowers):
http://buytaert.net/on-microsoft-anti-drupal-ad