Summary: Microsoft goes batting for DRM, removing other people's code from the Web for doing exactly what Microsoft itself is doing

As part of Microsoft's openwashing "charm offence", the company recently -- GASP -- opened an account at GitHub. Some gullible writers made a big deal out of it and Microsoft-friendly press once said that "The New Microsoft Is a Pal of GitHub" ("New Microsoft" is a marketing term, the company is now suing Android leaders for antagonising Microsoft extortion). Never mind if Microsoft nearly snatched staff that had created GitHub, potentially ruining GitHub. Microsoft wants us to believe that it is now a "Pal of GitHub".

Anyway, several weeks ago Microsoft became a mass cleanser of the Internet, bringing down millions of services by aggressively taking over No-IP and then rewriting history. The company clearly cares neither for GitHub nor for the integrity of the Net. Microsoft bombards Google with bogus DCMA takedown requests, too. Takedowns have a long history at Microsoft. The company is a censor. It's a bully that hates the Web because disruption to its business comes from the Web.

We were not entirely shocked to learn that Microsoft has censored GitHub, removing what was basically the equivalent of what Microsoft already does:

Following a complaint from Microsoft, GitHub has removed the code repository of an app that provides access to unprotected Xbox Music tracks. The developer of the software is surprised by Microsoft's move, stating that the company itself is offering access to DRM-free music through its API.

Well, this is Microsoft censorship and strong-arming. The company is a bully and this too is a reminder of it. GitHub should not have obeyed Microsoft's request. ⬆