Keep spinning, Microsoft...
TO distrust Microsoft is not to "hate"; not any more than a cop chasing a thief does so out of "hatred"...
"Microsoft did more than plenty to lose trust; it also lost antitrust cases. Microsoft is a convicted abuser."Several new readers of ours (we're definitely growing so far this year) have asked for more indexes that help document particular patterns of abuse; thankfully, several folks have also offered help with it. Over time the site will improve and we've been made aware of large-scale legal actions that fish evidence out of Techrights. Some of these actions are against Microsoft (e.g. for sexism), but some pertain to patents -- our 'bread and butter' in recent years.
It's really regretful that many articles about Microsoft's past crimes are vanishing from the Web. 'Internet rot' will make many not-so-flattering articles and quotes rot away, allowing PR 'puff pieces' to fill the gap with revisionism and marketing. That's a huge problem and this is why we must take stock of old articles too (because their domains expire, along with copies). Only this way material and quotes can be verified. Obfuscation facilitates denials and societal/historical amnesia.
The other day we quoted Bill Gates and someone told us he was unable to locate the source of that quote. Eventually it was found on a quotes sites. "Then AZQuotes would be the source," he said, but actually that site merely makes a copy of the original (with context, source and even date missing). "A very long time ago," I responded, "about a decade [back] I got the quote copied into my notes from somewhere I saw as reliable."
"That's a huge problem and this is why we must take stock of old articles too (because their domains expire, along with copies)."Sometimes it seems like the death of many news sites will benefit most those whose past is full of evil deeds. They can craft a fictional history for themselves, hoping nobody will dig any deeper.
"Yes," the person above noted, "that rot has been happening for a while. It even applies to articles promoting open standards. I supposed unlike with print, there is no authoritative copy archived anywhere on the planet. That's one reason I donated to the Internet Archive this year, another was the FSF's mistreatment of RMS and ongoing refusal to fix things up on any level so far."
"The Internet may forget, but the Internet Archive never forgets (as long as it's sufficiently funded)."We've often used the Internet Archive to highlight Microsoft's older crimes. We'll soon use the Internet Archive to show some really embarrassing things about Gates and his family. The Internet may forget, but the Internet Archive never forgets (as long as it's sufficiently funded).
The person continued: "But back to the general rot, this quote has disappeared from Spaf's home page in recent years: "Securing an environment of Windows platforms from abuse - external or internal - is akin to trying to install sprinklers in a fireworks factory where smoking on the job is permitted." (by Prof. Eugene H "Spaf" Spafford, father of the field of Internet Security)
"Speaking of revisionism, Microsoft is once again trying to rebrand itself as anti-patent trolls. Yes, Microsoft...""Governments could legally end Microsoft in an instant, with or without force, if the politicians were not so thoroughly bribed by Bill, Bill's dad, and their friends."
"Yes," I responded, but "this is applicable to many kinds of companies. In more than one country."
Speaking of revisionism, Microsoft is once again trying to rebrand itself as anti-patent trolls. Yes, Microsoft...
There's this new article (behind paywall) with the title "Apple, Microsoft and BMW urge EU to stop patent trolls" and it's mentioned in some tweets this week.
How can Microsoft -- and Apple too to a lesser degree -- pretend that it opposes trolling? Together with IBM and OIN it recently said the same thing, never mind if Microsoft is one of the world's biggest trolls and it's arming many as well. Microsoft has outsourced the trolling to a subsidiary and to proxies, so is Microsoft asking the EU to stop itself? Nope. Those liars just hope to magically change the written record.
"How can Microsoft -- and Apple too to a lesser degree -- pretend that it opposes trolling?"Take note of this tweet/reply: "When we sold our patent about 10 years ago - only co we could find to by it was a Patent Troll 1/3 owned by Microsoft execs..." (by DataInforms (@DataInforms) January 16, 2020)
Intellectual Vultures we assume (see the reply from the former Microsoft employee, Rick Falkvinge, and see our wiki on "Intellectual Vultures").
What DataInforms said on Twitter was seen alongside similar replies, such as: "They dont give a shit about innovation. The only reason why they changed their minds is, because they ran into some patent-walls for stuff that THEY want to profit / patent. If they could, they would gladly file those patents. Big companies dont have morals."
"So now Microsoft claims to be champion of the fight against patent trolls."There's also this : "What i know have Apple on one hand been fighting patent trolls since the 80:ties. On the other hand they are acting like trolls to gain marketing and legal advantages. I guess that goes for all the big ones."
So now Microsoft claims to be champion of the fight against patent trolls. What a bunch of liars and crooks. They sued Foxconn over Linux less than a year ago. ⬆