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09.30.10

Microsoft Canada is Sending Out the Shills, Trying to ‘Consume’ Free Software Advocates

Posted in America, Free/Libre Software, Marketing, Microsoft at 10:16 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Joey DeVilla as a Sellout

Summary: Another new example from Canada where the monopolistic company’s staff targets its vocal critics, trying to lure them into Microsoft’s nest

BASED on the screenshot above (sent to us by a reader), Microsoft is specifically targeting the opposition (it knows his full name).

This is not the first time that a Canadian reader of ours says that Microsoft Canada uses such strategies (and there are similar stories in other countries too although it’s beyond today’s scope).

Brandon, for example, sent us an example E-mail which was sent to him by Microsoft Canada. Also see:

Notice that the messages arrive from Microsoft’s paid AstroTurfers (the euphemism for their role is "evangelists"); this one specifically tries greasing up a pro-FOSS person (maybe accidental, but the message is personalised).

“Microsoft tries to diffuse its critics (just look at Microsoft Florian the mobbyist), often turning them into highly-paid anti-GNU/Linux ‘gurus’, as we last saw earlier this month.”It seems to have become a pattern, based on internal Microsoft pages. Microsoft tries to diffuse its critics (just look at Microsoft Florian the mobbyist), often turning them into highly-paid anti-GNU/Linux 'gurus', as we last saw earlier this month.

Don’t sell out to Microsoft; support people’s freedoms and stay loyal to the friendly neighbours.

Gathering intelligence on enemy activities is critical to the success of the Slog.”

Microsoft, internal document [PDF]

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2 Comments

  1. faltu said,

    October 1, 2010 at 5:42 am

    Gravatar

    Release Candidate for Ubuntu 10.10

    Shotwell has replaced F-Spot as the default photo manager.

    https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2010-September/000138.html

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