Bonum Certa Men Certa

The Register Has Been Mostly Microsoft Propaganda Disguised as 'News' After That Microsoft Partnership (Money)

Perception management operations 'on the cheap' (mere 'slush funds' to Microsoft)

I can see Microsoft critics. We don't need to refute our critics if we can just bribe them.



Summary: The Register (or El Reg) is becoming more of a Microsoft megaphone again; it all makes sense if one goes back a decade and a half to their Microsoft partnership (preceded by a lot of harsh criticisms of Microsoft)

THE VARIOUS "Linux" podcasts have more lately spoken quite a bit about "WSL"; it seems like a coordinated charm offensive, facilitatef partly by Microsoft and partly by Canonical. Similarly, in recent days we saw Red Hat pushing .NET quite a few times and some Python podcasts had Microsoft as guests. It's very clear Microsoft tries to dominate the discussion in order to push Windows, Visual Studio, GitHub, Azure and so on.



"It's very clear Microsoft tries to dominate the discussion in order to push Windows, Visual Studio, GitHub, Azure and so on.""The Register on "Microsoft Linux"," one reader wrote to us last night, is a trend worth taking stock of. "We would be familiar with the typical Microsoft strategy," he explained. "In this case, "partner" with a Linux company, generate some mindshare goodwill, then make sure the Linux subsystem isn't any use and will only run on Windows."

He cited yesterday's article about "multipass" -- a project Canonical released on... Microsoft GitHub. And guess whose agenda the article promotes....

As our reader put it (somewhat rudely): "What the fuck was Canonical thinking in 'partnering' with the borg?"

"No, we haven't missed the irony of Microsoft lovers with virtually no history in GNU/Linux development taking the 'lead' on this."He also took note of Canonical's decision to give Microsoft money for WSL's propaganda outlet. We alluded to this before.

"This is what Lenin refereed to supporters of Soviet-ism in the west "useful idiots"," our reader asserted, pointing to some of the culprits (we'll try to keep this impersonal and therefore redact some bits).

No, we haven't missed the irony of Microsoft lovers with virtually no history in GNU/Linux development taking the 'lead' on this. Nor have we overlooked their disdain for GNU/Linux and tacit support for Microsoft's patent blackmail against GNU/Linux. This is what WSL is. These are the people who take the lead! The managers...

Back to our reader: "Censorship at The Register" has meanwhile been claimed as well. They apparently censor a lot of comments that don't suit the narrative Microsoft wants. "Do an article on what advertising revenue (bribery) The Register gets from Microsoft, same with ZDNet and the rest," the reader said.

"They apparently censor a lot of comments that don't suit the narrative Microsoft wants."We actually wrote a lot about that in the past. Heck, we have a whole wiki page with articles about ZDNet -- a site I repeatedly encourage people to boycott (nowadays it's managed by a Microsoft fan, not even a closeted one, who writes clickbait as headlines and we know for whose agenda).

Our reader is certainty aware. It's difficult not to notice.

"I have a new slogan for The Register," he said. "The Register, whatever you do, don't mention 'MICROSOFT'. I'm afraid the Reg has gone bad for a long time. The only time you read about Linux is in relation to the MICROSOFT Linux sub-system, or Linux in relation to malware, but when it's on Windows then it's referred to as "banking" malware, else they keep pushing 'cloud' solutions."

A lot of their "Linux" or "FOSS" coverage (more so nowadays) comes from Microsoft Tim, just like Microsoft Peter (the pedophile) at Ars Technica up until his arrest. Their whole "Open Source" section was nothing except Microsoft lies and marketing. Literally all of it was just that when he was arrested. Need we mention that Ars Technica UK was -- by admission/confession made to me by its editor -- funded by Microsoft? Guess what dominated that site until it perished...

But let's go back to The Register. Microsoft Tim's case merits a post of his own. It's like Microsoft took journalistic authority over "Linux" and "FOSS". It calls the shots and sets the tone/narrative at The Register. Another person who once had this role, Ashley Vance, is nowadays doing propaganda pieces for Microsoft at even larger publishers (like some mythical Arctic vault -- basically fake news that helped distract from ICE controversies).

The reader suggested doing this search or that search. Find a negative article below...

Microsoft puff pieces



Microsoft Windows puff pieces



Need we remind readers that back in the old days The Register was renowned for Microsoft criticism?

Then Microsoft struck a partnership with The Register (yes, money involved).

"I've also noticed it's hard to find announcements of Bill Gates bribes (payments for particular publishes) -- which they openly disclose initially -- because they're once paid they're googlebombing the relevant search phrases with puff pieces (paid-for lies)."We would need to unearth that old article about the El Reg-Microsoft partnership. "Probably found in the 2003 or 2004 series," an associate of ours recalls, "but just as an announcement... not necessarily a main article."

These things are hard to find after all these years. I've also noticed it's hard to find announcements of Bill Gates bribes (payments for particular publishes) -- which they openly disclose initially -- because they're once paid they're googlebombing the relevant search phrases with puff pieces (paid-for lies). It's a real problem and it goes beyond advertising money. In the past we also showed examples of Bill Gates paying publishers critical of him and of Microsoft; soon afterwards they deleted all those past articles. It seemed rather clear what they were paid for.

Recent Techrights' Posts

Codecs and Software Patents - Part VII - Entering Phase II, the Battle Against Companies That Normalise Taxed (by Patents on Mathematics) Codecs
In the next few part we'll deal with the impact on Free software, including the GNU Project
 
SLAPP Censorship - Part 77 Out of 200: They Never Knew How to Handle Women (Except to Attack Them)
The case against us was really quite simple
Update on Sirius Open Source in 2026 (When Your Former Employer Commits Crimes and Nobody is Held Accountable)
I did not envision myself spending several years (even 4 years after leaving that company) challenging the system for tolerating and even covering up corruption
The Corrupt Lecture the Non-Corrupt - Part XXIII - Cocaine Use at the EPO's Top-Level Management "Adds Up" and Worsens Things "Over Time"
"cocaine use knocks the IQ down permanently a tiny bit with each use. Over time that adds up."
Gemini Links 15/05/2026: Slop Fatigue and Banning LLM Use
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, May 14, 2026
IRC logs for Thursday, May 14, 2026
Links 14/05/2026: Health Science, Cheeto Meets Pooh, and Facebook Staff Loathing the CEO
Links for the day
Gemini Links 14/05/2026: Early Morning Practice and Number to Roman Numeral Converter
Links for the day
FSF Advertises the Father of Software Freedom Giving a Talk in Germany (a Digital Sovereignty Interest Hub, Sponsor of Free Software)
Free Software vs malware and the need for reverse engineering
Cybershow (UK) Shaping Up to be a Neat and Very Large Gemini Capsule
If only more platforms did the same, plenty of energy would be spared, "old" machines would be totally suitable (even with 20 tabs open), as we'd focus on substance, not bells and whistles
SLAPP Censorship - Part 76 Out of 200: The Problem With the United Kingdom Allowing Americans to File Lawsuits by Proxy (Relayed by "Hired Guns")
Solicitors in UK warned not to act as ‘hired guns’ to silence critics of super-rich
When Microsoft's LinkedIn Goes Offline All Your Fake Friends/Connections and Manufactured 'Status' Will be Gone
Many people quit social control media because they recognise it for what it truly is
Major Setback for IBM in the Courtroom, the Demolition of IBM is Proving Costly
Kyndryl is a sign of how IBM ("mother ship") is run and where IBM is heading
Links 14/05/2026: Willful Ignorance and Mass Layoffs at Microsoft
Links for the day
Gemini Links 14/05/2026: Rewatching V for Vendetta, JPEG XL, and Platform Migrations
Links for the day
The Corrupt Lecture the Non-Corrupt - Part XXII - What the Science Says About Cocaine in the Workplace (EPO President, Mr. Campinos, Please Take Note)
What the science says
European Patent Office (EPO) President, Mr. Campinos, Ignoring Its Staff While Protecting His Friends
the President is covering up cocaine use while ignoring his own workers
Slop Cannot Replace Everybody (the Story of Perl and Universities)
Quantity where abundance exists is without merit; quality is what people opt for as they have limited time and patience
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
IRC logs for Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Links 13/05/2026: Sudan War Enters Fourth Year and Strait of Hormuz Leaves Safe Passage a Gamble
Links for the day
Gemini Links 13/05/2026: Useless Protests and Foofaraw on Geminispace
Links for the day
Mainstream Media: Microsoft Says No Layoffs. Microsoft: OK, There Are Layoffs.
Where is Waggener Edstrom/Frank Shaw now?
IBM's Kyndryl Down Almost 20% in 5 Days, IBM Down 35% in About 6 Months, Further 'Staff Reductions' at Red Hat (Problems Paying Salaries!)
Will this year's festivities be Krishna's last?
More Mass Layoffs at Microsoft, Only Weeks After the "Buyout" Nonsense (Glorified Severance to Highest-Paid American Staff)
Next up it is LinkedIn
IBM is in a Freefall, When Will IBM's CEO Fall on His Sword?
Since he controls the Board, is anyone in a position to fire him?
At GitLab, "AI" is "All India"
It says "as much as 30%," but they also hire and it's clear what demography is targeted
Verified Accounts of Microsoft Offering 'Retirement' (Layoffs) to People in Their 40s, Over Two Decades Earlier Than Retirement Age
It's not even about performance, it's about age (or "cost" as well as location; they cheapen the labour)
Links 13/05/2026: Slop Turns Into 2008-Style Subprime Bubble, Mass Layoffs at Starbucks
Links for the day
They Don't Like the Layoffs, So They Are Rebranding Them
Layoffs are layoffs
IBM Downgraded as the Shares Sink to New Lows
The current strategy of IBM is financial engineering, wage reductions, and mass layoffs that the corporate media refuses to even write about
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
IRC logs for Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Gemini Links 13/05/2026: TUIs and Internet Radio
Links for the day
How the European Patent Office Became a Crime and Corruption Hub, One of Europe's Biggest
incomplete outline