Paul Worswick wrote:
> More companies are using the threat of Linux when negotiating deals
> with Microsoft, one of the company's senior executives has admitted.
>
> A year after a letter from Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer to his employees
> acknowledged the Linux threat looming on the horizon, Microsoft remains
> adamant that open-source software isn't a serious competitor on the
> desktop today. However, it may well be forcing Microsoft's prices down.
>
> "It's definitely more of a threat than it was," said Nick Barley,
> director of marketing at Microsoft, when asked whether more businesses
> are telling Microsoft that they're planning to migrate to Linux rather
> than to one of its own operating systems or applications in the hope of
> getting a better deal.
>
> <http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5231561.html>
>
Linux became more of a clear and present danger to Microsoft when they
started to (under the table) get their proxies to launch attacks on
Linux. The Halloween letters do indicate their ongoing concerns. Plus,
they've been mentioning open source in their SEC filings since 2002.
Whether it has been by introducing Linux enemies to investors (who later
lost most of their investment), or by entering into "technology
licensing agreements" of dubious technical merit, they have been busy.
Incidentally, and after extensive code audit, there has been no
infinging code found in Linux.
Lest I be accused of misquoting, I'll just stick in a sentence of their
latest SEC filing.
http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/secdoc.xhtm...doc=0&attach=on"We are the defendant in more than 30 patent infringement cases that we
are defending vigorously."
Some may be nusiance suits, but some may be valid.
--
Richard Jobity, Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago | ph: (868) 620-5550
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