Summary: Microsoft gives non-Free (proprietary) software to community agencies (nonprofits) and calls it a donation

A few days ago we came across a Microsoft press release full of PR nonsense. It uses buzz phrases like "Innovation through Technology" ("Innovation" in general has become obnoxious propaganda, usually for patents) and it relates to the previous post where we revisited the effect of offering software licences as a form of bogus money.

What we gather from the press release is that Microsoft is buying more influence in NGOs, which is typical. Moreover, Microsoft may not pay anything for it. The Associated Press indicates that Microsoft just bribes them with 'funny money' (the perception that one can put an imaginary price tag on something that costs nothing to produce or at least to duplicate).

From ABC:

Microsoft Corp. and HCA Inc. are donating $1.25 million, primarily in software, to Middle Tennessee nonprofits to improve their technological capabilities.

Then it's just an illusion of donation, Microsoft is not really "donating"; Microsoft is giving them handcuffs (proprietary software) when it fact they could use Free software and have no lock-in, let alone acquisition costs. We have already seen examples in recent years where Microsoft ceased the "giving" or elevated the prices in such a way that left charities broke and/or stranded. Some of the best examples came from the UK and Australia where charities were furious. It was reported in the mainstream press.

Software is not a donation, no more than one can "donate" a prayer or "donate" a song. Just because it might be shrink-wrapped doesn't mean it's truly scarce. ⬆