Changelog: FSF, SFLC, OOXML, and Questions to Mark Shuttleworth

Dr. Roy Schestowitz

2007-07-01 08:21:39 UTC
Modified: 2007-07-01 08:21:39 UTC

FSF has mercy...

Viciousness (on the licensing side) didn't prevent Novell from being reluctantly jubilant at the end. The following bit is quite quote-worthy:

When Stallman released the final draft of GPLv3 on June 1, he told me he had decided to include a cut-off date in paragraph 7 of section 11 of the draft to make it possible for Novell to continue to distribute software covered under GPLv3 as part of its deal with Microsoft. In other words, the man was being merciful to a company which has sought to pervert the GPL.

Moglen's latest public talk...

You can watch Eben Moglen's talk which he gave just days ago. Proprietary and patent-encumbered codecs are seemingly needed. Some transcripts can be found in Groklaw.

OOXML and blogs...

This isn't the first time that I see what appears to be a pro-OOXML blog. Why would a blogger promote lockin? Microsoft has already been caught using astroturf-type tactics to promote document format monoculture where Microsoft always takes the lead. Examples include paid-for Wikipedia edits, starting a petition in favour of OOXML, calling business to support OOXML at massive scale (phonecalls and E-mails), and even setting up pro-OOXML Web sites which pretend to be Microsoft-independent. Let's not even mention the stuff they do on the 'political' side.

Mark Shuttleworth interview questions...

We received a large number of questions not only in this Web site, but also in a few others (which linked to us). I have assembled them all together (no legitimate questions were left out). Since Mark is traveling and his time is limited, I worry that not all questions can be answered. I fear that altogether excluding some of them would be unproductive and even offensive to readers. I might sent him a subset of these questions and let him answer only the ones he feels most comfortable with (and has time to address).

Comments

John Drinkwater

2007-07-01 10:43:26

doyoulovems is not a pro-OOXML site, you might want to read a few of John's entries first :) ( like http://doyoulovems.com/archives/18 )
Roy Schestowitz

2007-07-01 11:25:50

True, I have been seeing some of both sides of the debate, but there are other blogs (even anonymous ones, such as ooxmlhoaxes ), which are focused on just one side.
Venkatesh Hariharan

2008-02-11 11:43:52

What do you mean by "astro-turf" type tactics? I found that comment interesting because India's field hockey team used to be champions in the era when the game was played on grass, which suited our wristy style. With astroturf coming in, the game began to favor speed over artistry and Indian hockey has still not recovered. I am really curious to know more.
Roy Schestowitz

2008-02-11 11:50:54

Venkatesh,

Read the following item. http://boycottnovell.com/2007/11/23/astroturfing-microsoft-examples/

It contains various examples of what is known as AstroTurfing. This happens to also shows you that Microsoft rewards bloggers in India for praising its technologies, without any disclosure. This is illegal in some parts of the world and it is the lowest form of advertising, sometimes better known as "shilling" or -- as some journalists put -- "bribing bloggers".