Summary: Microsoft sneaks into a debate that affects the destiny of some key Free software projects

WITH the Oracle deal looming, Microsoft has an opportunity to do damage to Free software projects like Java and OpenOffice.org, so Microsoft -- being Microsoft -- is of course playing politics to disrupt the industry. We wrote about this in:

1. SAP/Microsoft Attack on Java, OpenOffice.org, Other Libre Products Culminates in Alliance
2. The 'Microsoft of Europe' Instructs Oracle on Free Software
3. Is Microsoft Lobbying to Burn Sun?
4. Microsoft Has Lobbyists and Cronies Around European Commission, Working to Shatter MySQL and Defend IE Monoculture

According to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft will attend the next EU hearing and the Microsoft crowd seems happy about it despite the fact that it's about burning Sun and reducing choice. The Register reports as follows:

Microsoft will testify to the European Commission later this week in the ongoing debate on whether the Eurocrats will bless Oracle's Sun-acquisition plans.

A Microsoft spokesperson told ZDNet that Redmond "can confirm participation at the hearing and that the company has previously responded to inquiry from the Commission about the deal." The hearing will be held this Thursday and Friday in Brussels.

Exactly what Microsoft will tell the Commission, however, is far from clear. As ZDNet notes, The Wall Street Journal reports that both Microsoft and SAP "have already told antitrust regulators they oppose the merger."

As several people have said, Microsoft and SAP are just lobbying for their interests, they are not actual customers. Why are they attending at all?

The acquisition is likely to go through eventually, but the question is, in what form?

The European Union's Competition Commissioner is optimistic that European Commission will reach "a satisfactory outcome" and ultimately approve Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems, Reuters reported Wednesday. Neelie Kroes made the comments in anticipation of a two-day hearing on the matter, which is slated to begin Thursday.

We have not taken sides in this debate, but what seems reasonable is for MySQL to be independent and Sun to be acquired. The role of Microsoft and SAP is by all means disruptive and hardly appropriate. ⬆

"What we are trying to do is use our server control to do new protocols and lock out Sun and Oracle specifically"

--Bill Gates