Pressure is now being applied to an aggressive Microsoft from several different direction. To those of you who follow the news, this may not be a surprise, but the Linux Foundation talks about taking action in a counter attack against Microsoft and its plan. This is not their first rebuttal.

Linux is the best-known variant of so-called open source software -- software that is freely available to the public to be used, revised and shared. Linux suppliers earn money selling improvements and technical services. By contrast, Microsoft charges for software and opposes freely sharing its code.

This comes at a time when Microsoft faces increasing pressure from many different directions, including its value. Have a look at this article from SmartMoney:

Long seen as a thorn in Microsoft's side, Linux is an operating system that is based on the ideas of freedom and collaboration. It opens up its code so programmers can add or change applications to suit their needs. By doing so, open source offers a level of customization that proprietary software like Windows, which keeps its code locked up, never had.

The third version of the GPL is another cause for a headache. The following article explains why it may force Microsoft's core business to evolve as it gives place to Free software.

In my analysis, Microsoft will move away from selling technology in favor of going all SaaS (look for the Live… brand on everything from entertainment software to really cool new B2C stuff to Longhorn). The next decade for Microsoft is all about the experience according to Ray Ozzie.

The last emerging pain are Google and the Justice Department, which have returned to looking to Microsoft's business practices.

Google argues that this feature violates a consent decree that monitors Microsoft's behavior as part of its settlement with the U.S. government, which had accused the company of using its monopoly to harm competition by incorporating new features into its operating system at no additional costs.