01.19.07
Novell’s Role in a Microsoft Crusade Against Genuine Open Source Software
There appears to be a coordinated effort by Microsoft to corrupt the term “Open Source” and make its merits less visible (if at all visible). It’s terminology assassination. There are more and more attempts to corrupt the term through media announcements and strategic moves such as the deal with Novell. To put it simply, Microsoft’s new scheme is:
“If The World Wants Open Source, We’ll Pretend to Be Open Source and Thereby Corrupt the Term”
The deal with Novell gives people the wrong impression with regards to Microsoft’s intents at heart. Now that the European Commission favours Open Source for savings, Microsoft clearly tries to create confusion. The Novell deal was only the beginning. Have a look at the following article titled “Microsoft and Open Source: The Real Deal?”. It is summed up as follows.
Sure looks like it, based on the company’s partnership with Novell.
Also today I find articles such as:
Why Microsoft should open-source SQL Server and SharePoint
This time, the former Softie is making a case for why Microsoft should consider open-sourcing some of its crown jewels, including SQL Server and SharePoint.
Alas, wait until you see what Microsoft means by “Open Source”. From another headline that appeared yesterday:
Aras Ushering in ‘Microsoft Enterprise Open Source’
Aras Innovator 8 requires Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with .NET 2.0 and Microsoft SQL Server 2005. The software is freely available from the Aras website. The software’s CodePlex project page is located here.
Clearly enough, a Microsoft-exclusive software house claims to be “Open Source”. These press releases have gone too far and wide, especially if one considers the obscurity of the company at hand.
Dave Rosenberg (of MuleSource) was justifiably annoyed by this:
Using open source as a marketing ploy
This is typical trend riding fluff. If you go the Aras website you read about “Microsoft Enterprise Open Source Solutions”, which is comical in and of itself.
He too was surprised to see how far a propaganda machine has pushed this story. Take this one for example:
Soft sell for open source apps
Schroer says there’s no contradiction between open source and the Microsoft software ecosystem. “Microsoft has a particular business model that works for them. But around that they’re encouraging open source development,” he explains.
Now, do bear in mind that Microsoft hired Bill Hilf, who would supposedly earn Microsoft a more tender image when it comes to Open Source. There is also Port 25, the Open Source lab at Redmond. It’s part of the confusion-through-assimilation strategy. It’s a Trojan horse or covert-ops routine.
In case you remain unconvinced at this stage, then we advise that you have a look at the videos here and see how Microsoft truly feels about Open Source. It tries to surround it with a morbid, malovalent aura to alter people’s perception. Also bear in mind that their Open Source labs were possible used to validate that Samba was broken (deliberately). It is just one among other things that they apparently ‘research’ there. As another example of a paradox:
A New Evangelist for Microsoft
When I first heard about this? let’s call it “rumor,” I have to admit that I was rather shocked at the very prospect of Microsoft wanting to bring on an “open source” evangelist into their ranks.
Shall we go back a few years and reminds ourselves how Microsoft really feels about Open Source? Among words that create bigots and stereotypes like “cancer” and “communism” we have this:
Microsoft says open-source software is un-American. Has the company completely lost its mind?
Once upon a time, Microsoft executives confined their criticism of Linux and free software to old-fashioned FUD — fear, uncertainty and doubt. Linux wasn’t good enough for enterprise-class systems, they declared. You couldn’t get quality support, and it was too hard and clunky for average users.
Fair enough. But now, judging by comments made Wednesday by Microsoft’s operating systems chief Jim Allchin (and reported by Bloomberg News), it turns out that free and open-source software is something far worse than anyone could possibly have imagined. It is nothing less than a threat to the American way of life!”
So the whole “patriotic duty” tactic is yet again being used. And it’s not the first time, either.
Buy Microsoft, it’s your patriotic duty
That seemed to be the message at the London launch of Microsoft Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange 2007 on 30 November 2006. Gordon Frazer, Microsoft’s UK managing director, devoted most his opening speech to a gallimaufry of statistics and quotations intended to show that buying these new offerings would somehow make Britain more competitive.
With the Novell deal, among other things, Microsoft will wish to fool prospective customers. Novell’s ‘mixed source’ pitch does not help.
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