06.30.11
As Microsoft Managers Keep Fleeing, Microsoft Attacks Small Players That Offer Linux (Updated)
Summary: Microsoft loses any shred of remaining dignity as Steve Ballmer shouts on stage (amid calls for his firing) and also has its men shout down on companies that sell Linux, trying to extort money out of them to avoid a lawsuit (probably a violation of the RICO Act for racketeering)
WHILE we no longer track the departure of many Microsoft managers (maybe one day there will be catching up), one reader did tell us about another Microsoft boss leaving:
Microsoft’s general manager for its troubled identity and access unit has left the company, The Register has learned.
We’ve been badgering the software vendor since Kim Cameron quit his post at Redmond in May to find out what changes were afoot within the group.
“According to reports in the Seattle Times,” says The Register, “Microsoft’s CEO shouted at a captive audience attending a civic bash in the city’s Rotary Club yesterday.” He is shouting to defend his position as CEO while his fellow thugs are also shouting — figuratively speaking — at companies that are selling Linux. According to the the Microsoft boosters, Microsoft carries on with the patent extortions tour, but it targets only small companies or companies whose use of Linux is barely known at all (thus no incentive to take this matter to the courtroom). Microsoft Nick says that “Microsoft corners another Android manufacturer on patents”, correctly (for a change) showing that there is nothing amicable there, unlike the fluff from Microsoft’s Orwellian press release that pro-Microsoft lobbyist Microsoft Florian links to (these people generally promote Microsoft PR as primary source when announcing extortion against Linux, giving attention to Microsoft press releases rather than attempt to challenge the claims therein). Just like General Dynamics Itronix [1, 2], Velocity Micro has just been extorted, as well. The lobbyist, Microsoft Florian, wrote today that “Android is neither “free” as in “beer” nor “free” as in “speech”.” Steve Ballmer said so too and Florian still refuses to answer the question about payments from Microsoft (he is almost certainly paid by them, at least indirectly). This sort of hatred of Linux was shown here before, including his shameless Red Hat bashing. The lobbying is important for Microsoft as means of changing public perception (which Florian does by mass-mailing journalists, using them as carriers of Microsoft FUD). Some of Microsoft’s income now arrives from its leech alter-ego, Microsoft Licensing, GP (MSLI) and the likes of that. It might be the only division remaining one day.
Microsoft is collapsing as a practicing company and the only thing left for it to practice (long term) is litigation, which will inevitably make it a patent troll. We continue to see some more litigation with software patents, which has a strong correlation to patent trolls. A lot of pro-software patents lobbying turns out to be financed by Microsoft. █
Update: For Microsoft, this is FUD week as another rather obscure player falls victim to extortion deals. Microsoft only targets companies too minor to go to court and complain to their government using RICO Act, for example. Barnes & Noble did complain and also leaked the evidence of racketeering; Microsoft would like to avoid that.
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