Bonum Certa Men Certa

Novell's Role in a Microsoft Crusade Against Genuine Open Source Software

There appears to be a coordinated effort by Microsoft to corrupt the term "Open Source" and make its merits less visible (if at all visible). It's terminology assassination. There are more and more attempts to corrupt the term through media announcements and strategic moves such as the deal with Novell. To put it simply, Microsoft's new scheme is:

"If The World Wants Open Source, We'll Pretend to Be Open Source and Thereby Corrupt the Term"

The deal with Novell gives people the wrong impression with regards to Microsoft's intents at heart. Now that the European Commission favours Open Source for savings, Microsoft clearly tries to create confusion. The Novell deal was only the beginning. Have a look at the following article titled "Microsoft and Open Source: The Real Deal?". It is summed up as follows.

Sure looks like it, based on the company's partnership with Novell.


Also today I find articles such as:

Why Microsoft should open-source SQL Server and SharePoint

This time, the former Softie is making a case for why Microsoft should consider open-sourcing some of its crown jewels, including SQL Server and SharePoint.


Alas, wait until you see what Microsoft means by "Open Source". From another headline that appeared yesterday:

Aras Ushering in 'Microsoft Enterprise Open Source'

Aras Innovator 8 requires Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with .NET 2.0 and Microsoft SQL Server 2005. The software is freely available from the Aras website. The software's CodePlex project page is located here.


Clearly enough, a Microsoft-exclusive software house claims to be "Open Source". These press releases have gone too far and wide, especially if one considers the obscurity of the company at hand.

Dave Rosenberg (of MuleSource) was justifiably annoyed by this:

Using open source as a marketing ploy

This is typical trend riding fluff. If you go the Aras website you read about "Microsoft Enterprise Open Source Solutions", which is comical in and of itself.


He too was surprised to see how far a propaganda machine has pushed this story. Take this one for example:

Soft sell for open source apps

Schroer says there's no contradiction between open source and the Microsoft software ecosystem. "Microsoft has a particular business model that works for them. But around that they're encouraging open source development," he explains.


Now, do bear in mind that Microsoft hired Bill Hilf, who would supposedly earn Microsoft a more tender image when it comes to Open Source. There is also Port 25, the Open Source lab at Redmond. It's part of the confusion-through-assimilation strategy. It's a Trojan horse or covert-ops routine.

In case you remain unconvinced at this stage, then we advise that you have a look at the videos here and see how Microsoft truly feels about Open Source. It tries to surround it with a morbid, malovalent aura to alter people's perception. Also bear in mind that their Open Source labs were possible used to validate that Samba was broken (deliberately). It is just one among other things that they apparently 'research' there. As another example of a paradox:

A New Evangelist for Microsoft

When I first heard about this? let's call it "rumor," I have to admit that I was rather shocked at the very prospect of Microsoft wanting to bring on an "open source" evangelist into their ranks.


Shall we go back a few years and reminds ourselves how Microsoft really feels about Open Source? Among words that create bigots and stereotypes like "cancer" and "communism" we have this:

Microsoft says open-source software is un-American. Has the company completely lost its mind?

Once upon a time, Microsoft executives confined their criticism of Linux and free software to old-fashioned FUD -- fear, uncertainty and doubt. Linux wasn't good enough for enterprise-class systems, they declared. You couldn't get quality support, and it was too hard and clunky for average users.

Fair enough. But now, judging by comments made Wednesday by Microsoft's operating systems chief Jim Allchin (and reported by Bloomberg News), it turns out that free and open-source software is something far worse than anyone could possibly have imagined. It is nothing less than a threat to the American way of life!"


So the whole "patriotic duty" tactic is yet again being used. And it's not the first time, either.

Buy Microsoft, it's your patriotic duty

That seemed to be the message at the London launch of Microsoft Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange 2007 on 30 November 2006. Gordon Frazer, Microsoft's UK managing director, devoted most his opening speech to a gallimaufry of statistics and quotations intended to show that buying these new offerings would somehow make Britain more competitive.


With the Novell deal, among other things, Microsoft will wish to fool prospective customers. Novell's 'mixed source' pitch does not help.

Comments

Recent Techrights' Posts

A Note on SimilarWeb
Or why SimilarWeb is meaningless for more than 99% of the sites on the Web
IBM Said to be Shutting Down Offices or Sites in the United States
the press can no longer avoid admitting that IBM moves many jobs to India
LLM Slop as Attack Vector on the Reputation of Linux
The attacks on Linux have escalated to information warfare
 
Traf-O-Data, the Company That Jeffrey Epstein's BFF (Bill Gates) (Co)Founded 53 Years and Went Out of Business Due to Heavy Losses
Who will die first, Bill or Microsoft?
Why Microsoft's Shares Sank Almost 20% in Recent Months (the Bubble is Imploding)
verified press reports from the past 24 hours
GNU/Linux Rises to Almost 5% in Algeria While Windows Sinks to All-Time Low
GNU/Linux grew tenfold
Where to Get More Gags
A valued reader recommended that to us
Links 04/04/2025: Tech Stock (Inc. GAFAM) Fall, Google Pretends to Do End-to-End Encrypted Emails (With Google in Control)
Links for the day
To Participate in Fedora Diversity You Must Use Proprietary Software
Not for the first time either
Yandex About to Be Three Times Bigger Than Microsoft (Bing) in Asia
That's about 60% of the world's population
Gemini Links 04/04/2025: Decoupling Updates, Elaho as Gemini Client
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, April 03, 2025
IRC logs for Thursday, April 03, 2025
Microsoft's Trouble in Africa and Asia
A new all-time high for GNU/Linux
Brett Wilson LLP Reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
The saddest thing in all this is that law firms can maintain high standards shall they wish to
Links 03/04/2025: Tariff Pains and C.D.C. Cuts
Links for the day
StatCounter: Microsoft is Masking a Disaster, It's Way Behind DeepSeek Already and Interest in LLMs Has Waned
it turns out the money "raised" for "Open" "AI" may not even exist at all
Links 03/04/2025: SoftBank Money for Microsoft "Open" "AI" Probably Doesn't Even Exist, Wikimedia Foundation Blasts LLM Nuisance While Microsoft Admits Demand Has Shrunk
Links for the day
Gemini Links 03/04/2025: Patch Panel and Pictures
Links for the day
Islamic Republic of Iran: GNU/Linux at All-time High This Month, Windows Falls to 12%
Vista 10 is up this month despite being "end of life" (EoL) soon
Indonesia: All-Time Highs for GNU/Linux
What's noteworthy right now is the growth of GNU/Linux
statCounter Says GNU/Linux Usage is Up Again (Internationally)
some preliminary April data
Only on April 1st Can the Free Software Foundation Associate With Microsoft's Open Source Initiative (OSI)
We saw some pranks that day linking the FSF to Microsoft (e.g. "endorsing" Windows)
Confirmed in the Mainstream Media: A Lot of Microsoft "Workloads" Were Just LLM Slop (Helping to Fake Growth for Years, as Microsoft Had Paid "Open" "AI" to Become a "Client") and Demand is Rapidly Waning, Datacentres Canceled and/or Shut Down
Anything to facilitate further accounting fraud
Taiwan's Media Covers Closure of Microsoft's "AI" Lab, It's Time to Talk About the Gradual Death of Windows and Implosion of the "AI" Bubble
Earlier this week we showed that mostly Asian media had the 'nerve' to mention Microsoft silently shutting down its 'AI' lab
IBM Gets Rid of Kelly Chambliss as Mass Layoffs Reported in IBM Consulting, IBM Loses Key Contracts/Graft
IBM Consulting has been in disarray lately
More Gains for GNU/Linux, Based on Web Surveys
the Steam site shows rapid growth for "Linux" this month
Slopwatch: Anti-Linux Articles, Not Even Written by Humans
Why aren't Web sites more vocal about this problem?
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, April 02, 2025
IRC logs for Wednesday, April 02, 2025
Links 03/04/2025: Apple Fined Over Secret Surveillance, "Elegant Writer For A More Civilized Age"
Links for the day
Gemini Links 02/04/2025: Books and Cold Tea
Links for the day
Links 02/04/2025: More Layoffs, Nokia Again Takes Advantage of Illegal and Unconstitutional Patent Court With Nokia Staff as 'Judges'
Links for the day
Links 02/04/2025: Seizures and Returns to Windows of 24 Years Ago
Links for the day
LLM Slop Helps Obscure and Distort News About Layoffs (IBM, GAFAM)
It's hard to find accurate information
Links 02/04/2025: Microsoft Developers Are Threatening to Go on Strike, World Backup Day Noted
Links for the day
Gemini Protocol Has Growing Appeal (the Web Got Too Bloated and Full of LLM Slop)
For any "data plan" with bandwidth limits or "tiers" it would be cheaper to use/browse Geminispace
The Web Can Survive LLM Slop, But Only If We Collectively Shun and Discourage Serial Sloppers
Doing nothing ought not be a possibility
Amid Secret Shut-downs and Mass Layoffs at Microsoft (4 Waves of Layoffs in 3 Months of 2025) Some Microsoft Staff Expected to Go On Strike
workers going on strike
Gemini Links 02/04/2025: No more on Mastodon and Gemini Mention Script in Go
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, April 01, 2025
IRC logs for Tuesday, April 01, 2025
My Motion Disbarring or “Striking Off” Brett Wilson LLP for Enabling Violent Americans Who Try to Crush Microsoft Critics in the United Kingdom by Multiple SLAPPs
"Guns for hire" (for Microsoft people who received Microsoft salaries)
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Hijacked Again by Patent Litigation Industry, as President Cheeto Prioritises Aggressors
The "mafia" has taken over the "industry" and the Federal system (justice and constitutions trampled upon)
Ubuntu Slop and FUD Manufactured With LLMs and Funded (by Oneself) 'Studies'
Slop and FUD are ruining the Web