Bonum Certa Men Certa

Microsoft Decides to Embrace and Extend 'Plugfest'

Drain



Summary: Microsoft describes its proprietary, binary-only formats in the context of a "plugfest" -- a term implicitly reserved for ODF events

THE TERM "plugfest" -- at least when it comes to document formats -- has a connotation to do with ODF. Last year we showed how those plugfests got 'infiltrated' (Microsoft's term [PDF]) by Microsoft employees and partners, who sought to change the agenda there [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13].



One of the vicious campaigners against ODF, Microsoft's Mahugh, is now co-opting the term "plugfest" by using it to describe discussion about Microsoft's proprietary document formats.

Former Open XML evangelist Doug Mahugh announces a "Binary Format Plugfest" for October 18/19


We have given many similar examples where Microsoft hijacks words to paint OOXML, for example, as something "open", which also sounds a little like "Open Office". These are not coincidences; these are merciless marketing tricks.

Recent Techrights' Posts

The GNU Manifesto Turns 40 in a Few Weeks
The FSF turns 40 later this year, too
Another Talk by Richard Stallman Tomorrow, This Time in Bengaluru
This means that in January 2025 he is giving at least 5 public talks
Rhino Linux Can (and Perhaps Should) Promote Alternatives to Microsoft Instead of Preloading Microsoft
Deeper down inside Rhino Linux there's a problem
Slashdot is Once Again Publishing Lies and Revisionism for Bill Gates, Citing Microsoft's MSN to Rewrite History and Distract From the Jeffrey Epstein Crimes
Of course this also distracts
Too Big, Will Fail (How Linux Grew Way Too Fat)
Linux has very extensive hardware support, but that comes at a cost
 
"SuccessFactors" (SAP) Stunts at the EPO Used to Break Laws and Constitutions, Staff Tricked Into Harming Themselves
Ongoing corruption and lawlessness became the norm; Europe's second-largest institution (EPO) along with the largest institution (EU) has its very own Minsk
Continued Support and Momentum at the Free Software Foundation (FSF)
"This helps protect our community."
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, January 27, 2025
IRC logs for Monday, January 27, 2025
Links 27/01/2025: Lukashenko's Sham Elections, TikTok for Insurrection Loyalist (Larry Ellison)?
Links for the day
Gemini Links 27/01/2025: IndieWeb Musings and Devlog
Links for the day
IBM Layoffs in "Co-location Mandate" Clothing
It's possible that later this week, around the time of the so-called 'results', many layoffs would be announced
Microsoft-Funded IDG Seems to be 'Googlebombing' the Term Free Software to Promote Proprietary Spyware Too
Microsoft advocated along with other proprietary things
Videos and Photos of Richard Stallman's (RMS) Keynote Address in India Earlier Today
He probably told the target audience (India) a thing or two about the role of proprietary software in colonialism
GAFAM Hates - Except in a Worryingly Parasitic Way - GNU/Linux and Its Freedoms (or Its Users)
Let the story from DistroWatch serve as a reminder that the era of Social Control Media is over
Links 27/01/2025: Social Control Media Explores Propaganda for Racism as a Business Model, China’s Tibet Dam Criticised
Links for the day
Richard Stallman Gives Keynote Address in a Few Hours
Richard Stallman's personal site was updated to give more details
Microsoft Relegated by Manchester United
No Microsoft
IBM Layoffs in 2025: Rumours Say Even Managers Will Get the Axe, Some Via Loopholes Like PIP and/or RTO (Preparations Already Underway)
Where does IBM's money go?
FOSDEM Talks Are Vanishing
They no longer seem to be taking money from Microsoft and/or its tentacles
Gemini Links 27/01/2025: Mental Locomotion, Gemini Protocol Bots From China, and Domain-Specific Languages
Links for the day
Microsoft Still Hires Journalists to Reward Them (Belated Payment) for Microsoft Propaganda
The PR/lying pipeline
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, January 26, 2025
IRC logs for Sunday, January 26, 2025
Links 26/01/2025: Privacy Breaches and Growing Nationalism
Links for the day
The UK's Press Gazette Has No Credibility Anymore, It Celebrates Plagiarism and Cheap Misinformation (This Ruins Linux Sites Too)
They encourage a form of plagiarism and that even ruins "Linux" sites
Journalistic Malpractice Helps Bill Gates Cover Up His Marriage Collapsing Because of His Very Deep Ties to Jeffrey Epstein (and It's Melinda Who Dumped Him, Divorce Proceedings Started by Her in 2019)
you can alter narratives and perceptions worldwide
The Linux Foundation's Certificate Authority (CA) Let's Encrypt Hits New Lows in Geminispace
13 known capsules still use it
How "Open Source" Became Microsoft (But It's Actually Proprietary, OSI is an Openwashing Front Group Now)
They're still trying to rewrite history, but it's harder when Richard Stallman (RMS) is alive
Links 26/01/2025: Chatbot Woes and UnitedHealth Data Breach (Windows TCO)
Links for the day
Gemini Links 26/01/2025: The Postman and More
Links for the day
Links 26/01/2025: Fentanylware (TikTok) Turns to Hype/Pyramid Scheme, Insurers Failed to Comply With Federal Law
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, January 25, 2025
IRC logs for Saturday, January 25, 2025