1 == Microsoft's VS Free Software ==
3 Why does Microsoft deserve special treatment among all the companies producing proprietary software? **Microsoft is the only company that actively and repeatedly tried for years to kill FreeSoftware and Linux.**
5 This is a collection of a variety of strategies attempted by Microsoft
6 against an extremely resilient competitor that couldn't be simply brought
7 or driven to bankruptcy.
9 steve_ballmer_bill_gates_i_wish_i_knew_how_to_quit_you.jpg
12 === Targeting GNU/Linux ===
14 * [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/06/02/ballmer_linux_is_a_cancer/ | Linux is a Cancer]] -- Steve Ballmer, CEO (2001)
16 * [[http://www.linux.com/feature/8374 | Linux is un-American]] -- Jim Allchin, Windows chief officer (2001)
18 * Microsoft suspected behind SCO's "smoking gun" attacks against Linus Torvalds
20 * Microsoft paying a "think tank" to bribe Tanembaum to accuse Linus Torvalds of stealing Minix's code
22 * Software patent lobby at the EU parliament
24 * "Get the Facts!" (AKA "Get the FUD!") campaign
26 * "We have the way out!" campaign with Unisys
29 === Targeting Linux distributors ===
31 * 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)
33 * Paying Novell again (2008)
35 * Attempting to [[http://olpcnews.com/sales_talk/microsoft/how_microsoft_got_xp_on_the_xo.html | take over OLPC]] (2005)
37 * Attempted patent deal with [[http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/19/1720201 | Red Hat and Canonical]] (2007)
40 === Targeting hardware vendors ===
42 * [[http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/15/technology/microsoft_olpc.fortune/index.htm | Undisclosed deal between Bill Gates and Nicholas Negroponte]], disrupting OLPC (2008)
44 * Dumping Linux in Australia on the Asus EEE PC (2008)
47 === Internet market share ===
49 * Commissioning [[http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/07/0531210 | biased benchmarks]] to make Windows look better than Linux (2005)
51 * 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)
54 === Targeting Apple ===
56 * Fake "Mac switchers" campaign with stock photos of models
58 * The "I'm a PC" campaign (2008)
61 === Targeting open standards ===
64 * Creating OOXML to disrupt the Open Document Format.
66 * Bribe ISO into accepting OOXML (2008)
71 === Targeting specific FLOSS projects ===
73 * Bribe Blender (2008)
77 * [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/25/microsoft_gpl/ | $100K bribe to Apache Software Foundation]] (2008)
79 * The [[http://www.microsoft.com/uk/servers/winclientshearts/ | Windows loves PHP]] campaign to promote the WAMP platform (2008)
82 === Targeting OpenSource licenses and development model ===
84 * Claiming the GPLv3 is invalid and unenforceable (in the context of distributing the Novell "vouchers" to customers)
86 * The [[http://www.catb.org/~esr/halloween/ | Halloween documents]] (1998-2004)
88 * Microsoft claims that [[http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-152099.html | OSS violates 235 (unspecified) patents]]
93 Please help expand and verify this list!
94 Each claim should come with links to supporting material.