Bonum Certa Men Certa

Bill Gates Invades the Land of Linus, Uses Dumping Techniques

"[Microsoft] are willing to lose money for years and years just to make sure that you don't make any money, either."

--Bob Cringely



One of the most FOSS-friendly countries in the world, where Firefox boasts a market share of almost 50%, has just heard about a little visit involving Mr. Gates himself. As I've argued for about a year, his retirement will involve a great deal of lobbying, which makes it not truly a retirement per se but more of a role change. The money stored in his foundation isn't always spent the way you would expect it, either [1, 2].

What you are about to read isn't shocking. We have already seen some examples in South America (covered earlier this week) and we saw Microsoft pulling some similar stunts in Europe. We also saw Linux 'protection' deals getting used to put Microsoft Live services right there (by default) on the Linux desktop (e.g. Turbolinux).

A visitor of this site, who goes by the name "Finland Calling", has just dropped us a helpful tip.




Anyways, here’s the latest from our nordic corner of the world.

[...]

Quick translation of the text from “The Finnish News Agency” aka STT going rounds in web already and being published in all of the major and also most of the minor newspapers tomorrow. (Friday)

“Microsoft told about the new collaboration on Thursday in Seattle.”In the meeting between prime minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen and Bill Gates, the software giant Microsoft promised to donate tailored tools for Finnish schools. Microsoft will offer Finnish basic education and general upper secondary schools and their students free Windows live services selection. It includes f.ex Hotmail, electronic timetable, discussion forum and a bulletin board. Microsoft told about the new collaboration on Thursday in Seattle. It is the first project for both basic- and secondary schools. It can also be used in Finnish vocational, polytechnic and university schools. “This project supports very well the development of Finnish information society also in educational system and corresponds well with our aims in information society”, Vanhanen praised Microsoft.

http://yle.fi/news/id79777.html has some background about his visit to the US.




Given what we have seen in France and other parts of Europe (more recently in Greece), there are many reasons to become highly suspicious. If you are not familiar with the background to this, you are strongly encouraged to follow the links and study the systematic manipulation, arm-bending, and even blackmail.

The sort of dumping techniques described above are reminiscent of Microsoft's actions in China as well as plans for Russia. It is a whack-and-mole game where Microsoft identifies countries that strengthen the presence of Free software and then puts shackles on them, with the 'kind' assistance of diplomats.

Thank you again, "Finland Calling", for this translation. Your previous report, among several others on (arguably unacceptable) OOXML-related misconduct in Finland was read by thousands -- particularly people from Finland.

Related articles:

Published just 3 days ago: Microsoft trained 200,000 teachers in India

The moves by Microsoft to offer free or subsidized software in India have however come in for criticism from the Free Software Foundation, which compared Microsoft's philanthropy to that of a cigarette manufacturer handing out free samples of cigarettes to students.


Welcome to college, here's your Windows Live account

Microsoft, in an attempt to spread the word about Windows Live, has struck a deal with 72 colleges all across the world. And what is this said deal? The colleges have agreed to let Microsoft host their students' e-mail accounts.


Microsoft plans innovative new school in Knowsley says Bill Gates

Tailored to meet local community needs, the Innovative Schools will be rolled out in 12 locations around the world including United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Qatar, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Hong Kong.

Microsoft's innovative Schools initiative works with governments, teachers and partners around the world to modernise schools to meet the challenges of 21st Century learning. The initiative was initially used to develop the Philadelphia School of the Future, opened in the United States September last year.


The Philadelphia Experiment: Microsoft-Designed School Opens

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has famously called high schools "obsolete" and warned about their effect on U.S. competitiveness. Now, his company has a chance to prove that it can help fix the woes of public education.


“They’ll get sort of addicted, and then we’ll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.”

--Bill Gates



"Bill Gates looks at everything as something that should be his. He acts in any way he can to make it his. It can be an idea, market share, or a contract. There is not an ounce of conscientiousness or compassion in him. The notion of fairness means nothing to him. The only thing he understands is leverage."

--Philippe Kahn

Comments

Recent Techrights' Posts

Microsoft's Windows is a Niche Operating System in Africa
African nations aren't a large contributor to Microsoft's income, but if many African nations move away from Windows, then the monopoly is at risk
Gemini Links 19/06/2025: Unix Primitivism, Zine Club, and Gemini Protocol Turns 6 at Midnight
Links for the day
 
Common Mistake: Believing Social Control Media Will Document Your Writings/Thoughts and Search Engines Like Google Will Help You Find These
Many news sites wrongly assumed that posting directly to Twitter would be acceptable
The Manchester Bees and This Hot Summer
We have had a fantastic week so far this week
Gemini Protocol Enters Its Seventh Year, Growth Has Accelerated!
Maybe in June 20 2026 there will be over 3,500 active capsules?
Mastodon and the Fediverse Have an Issue: Liability for Content (Even in Other Instances) and Costs
self-hosting is the only logical path forward
Why Microsoft and Its 'Hey Hi' (Slop) Frenzy Fail While Sinking in Deep, Growing Debt
Right now, like Twitter around the time it was sold to MElon, "open" "hey hi" is a big pile of debt with a lot to pay for that debt (interest payments)
Europe is Leaving Microsoft, the Press Coverage Isn't Sufficiently Helpful
The news is generally positive, but the press coverage leaves so much to be desired
Slopwatch: Linuxsecurity, BetaNews, and Linux Journal
slippery slope
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, June 19, 2025
IRC logs for Thursday, June 19, 2025
Gemini Links 20/06/2025: Gemini Protocol Turns 6!
Links for the day
Links 19/06/2025: Ghostwriting Scam and Fentanylware (TikTok) Buying Time
Links for the day
Links 19/06/2025: WhatsApp Identified as Assassination 'Crosshairs', Patreon Now Rips Off People Even More
Links for the day
"Told You So": Another Very Large Wave of Microsoft Layoffs Now Confirmed in Mainstream Media
So we were right to believe the rumours, based on the credibility of prior such rumours
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
IRC logs for Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Gemini Links 18/06/2025: Magit and Farming
Links for the day
Slopwatch: BetaNews is Now a Slopfarm (Like Linuxsecurity) and Google News is Overwhelmed by Slopfarms
The Web is bad
Links 18/06/2025: SCOTUS Decision on Fentanylware (TikTok) Still Ignored, 4.5-Day Work Weeks
Links for the day
Links 17/06/2025: Windows TCO and G7 Rifts
Links for the day
The Right to Know and the Freedom to Report on Crime (at the Higher Echelons)
I'd like to do the same thing for the next 20 years
BetaNews Appears to Have Fired All Of Its Staff
Even serial sloppers
After the Web Becomes Slopped to Death
A lot of people are rightly fed up with the "modern" Web
Gemini Protocol Turns 6 on Friday
Active (online) Gemini capsules are estimated by Lupa at over 3,000
Like Most Social Control Media, Microsoft LinkedIn is Collapsing
One reason for Microsoft acquisitions is debt-loading, i.e. offloading and burying its debt
Microsoft is Losing Its Richest Clients
Unlike some very poor countries, Germany and the EU are a considerable source of income to Microsoft
Proprietary Means Not Secure
Proprietary software tends to rely on secrecy, not good design
Slop in 'AI' Clothing is a Passing Fad, We'll Get Past It (Like Blockchain Before That)
Many people cheat in exams using slop and there are professionals that try using slop as a "shortcut"
GNOME Does Not Campaign Against Microsoft, KDE Does
It's good to see that KDE is still active in promotion of Free software - a term that it uses
Slopwatch: BetaNews, Linuxsecurity, and Other Prolific Slopfarms
name and shame the sites that establish such proliferation of slop
Gemini Links 18/06/2025: Birch Lake and Loon Pond
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
IRC logs for Tuesday, June 17, 2025