1 == Microsoft's VS Free Software ==
3 Why does Microsoft deserve special casing among all companies producing proprietary software? Because
4 **Microsoft is the only company that actively and repeatedly tried for years to kill FreeSoftware and Linux.**
6 This is a collection of a variety of strategies attempted by Microsoft
7 against an extremely resilient competitor that couldn't be simply brought
8 or driven out of business in the conventional ways.
10 steve_ballmer_bill_gates_i_wish_i_knew_how_to_quit_you.jpg
13 === Targeting GNU/Linux ===
15 * [[http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/09/linux-foundation-to-microsoft-stop-secretly-attacking-linux.ars | Selling Linux related patents to trolls ]] (Sep 2009)
17 * [[http://www.ditii.com/2009/09/08/microsoft-linux-vs-windows-7-slideshow-for-retailers-targets-linux/ | Linux vs Windows 7 slides for retailers]] (Aug 2009)
20 * [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/06/02/ballmer_linux_is_a_cancer/ | Linux is a Cancer]] -- Steve Ballmer, CEO (2001)
22 * [[http://www.linux.com/feature/8374 | Linux is un-American]] -- Jim Allchin, Windows chief officer (2001)
24 * Microsoft suspected behind SCO's "smoking gun" attacks against Linus Torvalds
26 * Microsoft paying a "think tank" to bribe Tanembaum to accuse Linus Torvalds of stealing Minix's code
28 * Software patent lobby at the EU parliament
30 * "Get the Facts!" (AKA "Get the FUD!") campaign
32 * $25M spent for "[[http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-870805.html | We have the way out!]]" anti-Unix campaign with Unisys
35 === Targeting Linux distributors ===
37 * Paying Novell with "vouchers" for unclear [[http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-makes-Linux-pact-with-Novell/2100-1016_3-6132119.html | patent and "interoperability" pact]] (2007)
39 * Paying Novell again (2008)
41 * Attempting to [[http://olpcnews.com/sales_talk/microsoft/how_microsoft_got_xp_on_the_xo.html | take over OLPC]] (2005)
43 * Attempted patent deal with [[http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/19/1720201 | Red Hat and Canonical]] (2007)
46 === Targeting hardware vendors ===
48 * [[http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/15/technology/microsoft_olpc.fortune/index.htm | Undisclosed deal between Bill Gates and Nicholas Negroponte]], disrupting OLPC (2008)
50 * Dumping Linux in Australia on the Asus EEE PC (2008)
53 === Internet market share ===
55 * Commissioning [[http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/07/0531210 | biased benchmarks]] to make Windows look better than Linux (2005)
57 * Make IIS look better in [[http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2006/04/06/april_2006_web_server_survey.html | Netcraft's web server survey]] by convincing domain registrars to use Windows servers for parked domains (2006)
60 === Targeting Apple ===
62 * Fake "Mac switchers" campaign with stock photos of models
64 * The "I'm a PC" campaign (2008)
67 === Targeting open standards ===
69 * Creating OOXML to disrupt the Open Document Format.
71 * Bribe ISO into accepting OOXML (2008)
73 * The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Live_ID#Problems | Passport]] authentication scheme (aka Microsoft Wallet, aka Windows Live ID (2007).
75 * Tactic for [[http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=20071023002351958|taking over standard panels]] by controlling the moderator (1997-2008).
78 === Targeting Android ===
80 * [[http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20110322014831856|Undercover Microsoft lawyer]] attacks Android for alleged GPL violations (2011)
82 * [[http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/when-patents-attack-android.html|Patent attack on Android]] from Microsoft, Apple and Oracle (2011)
84 * Campaign offering [[http://www.wpcentral.com/ben-rudolph-offering-5-unhappy-android-users-free-windows-phone|free Windows phones]] for badmouthing Android (2012)
87 === Targeting specific FLOSS projects ===
89 * Bribe Blender (2008)
93 * [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/25/microsoft_gpl/ | $100K bribe to Apache Software Foundation]] (2008)
95 * The [[http://www.microsoft.com/uk/servers/winclientshearts/ | Windows loves PHP]] campaign to promote the WAMP platform (2008)
97 * [[http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/10/microsoft-posts-video-of-customers-criticizing-openoffice.ars|Video against OpenOffice]] and OpenSource in general (2010)
100 === Targeting Free Software licenses and development model ===
102 * [[http://jan.wildeboer.net/2011/02/microsoft-absolutely-no-free-software-for-windows-phone-and-xbox-apps/|Exclude GPLv3 and other copyleft licenses from Windows Phone and XBox appstore]] (2011)
104 * Claiming the GPLv3 is invalid and unenforceable (in the context of distributing the Novell "vouchers" to customers)
106 * The [[http://www.catb.org/~esr/halloween/ | Halloween documents]] (1998-2004)
108 * Microsoft claims that [[http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-152099.html | OSS violates 235 (unspecified) patents]] (FUD)
110 * [[http://www.codeplex.org/|CodePlex foundation]] -- Motivation behind this initiative is still unclear (as of Sep 2009)
113 === Targeting Microsoft's own customers ===
115 * [[http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/06/microsoft-slips-ie-firefox-add-on-into-toolbar-update.ars | Microsoft hides mystery Firefox extension in toolbar update]]
120 Please help expand and verify this list!
121 Each claim should come with links to supporting material.