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://www.ditii.com/2009/09/08/microsoft-linux-vs-windows-7-slideshow-for-retailers-targets-linux/ | Linux vs Windows 7 slides for retailers]] (2009)
18 * [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/06/02/ballmer_linux_is_a_cancer/ | Linux is a Cancer]] -- Steve Ballmer, CEO (2001)
20 * [[http://www.linux.com/feature/8374 | Linux is un-American]] -- Jim Allchin, Windows chief officer (2001)
22 * Microsoft suspected behind SCO's "smoking gun" attacks against Linus Torvalds
24 * Microsoft paying a "think tank" to bribe Tanembaum to accuse Linus Torvalds of stealing Minix's code
26 * Software patent lobby at the EU parliament
28 * "Get the Facts!" (AKA "Get the FUD!") campaign
30 * "We have the way out!" campaign with Unisys
33 === Targeting Linux distributors ===
35 * 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)
37 * Paying Novell again (2008)
39 * Attempting to [[http://olpcnews.com/sales_talk/microsoft/how_microsoft_got_xp_on_the_xo.html | take over OLPC]] (2005)
41 * Attempted patent deal with [[http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/19/1720201 | Red Hat and Canonical]] (2007)
44 === Targeting hardware vendors ===
46 * [[http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/15/technology/microsoft_olpc.fortune/index.htm | Undisclosed deal between Bill Gates and Nicholas Negroponte]], disrupting OLPC (2008)
48 * Dumping Linux in Australia on the Asus EEE PC (2008)
51 === Internet market share ===
53 * Commissioning [[http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/07/0531210 | biased benchmarks]] to make Windows look better than Linux (2005)
55 * 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)
58 === Targeting Apple ===
60 * Fake "Mac switchers" campaign with stock photos of models
62 * The "I'm a PC" campaign (2008)
65 === Targeting open standards ===
68 * Creating OOXML to disrupt the Open Document Format.
70 * Bribe ISO into accepting OOXML (2008)
75 === Targeting specific FLOSS projects ===
77 * Bribe Blender (2008)
81 * [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/25/microsoft_gpl/ | $100K bribe to Apache Software Foundation]] (2008)
83 * The [[http://www.microsoft.com/uk/servers/winclientshearts/ | Windows loves PHP]] campaign to promote the WAMP platform (2008)
86 === Targeting OpenSource licenses and development model ===
88 * Claiming the GPLv3 is invalid and unenforceable (in the context of distributing the Novell "vouchers" to customers)
90 * The [[http://www.catb.org/~esr/halloween/ | Halloween documents]] (1998-2004)
92 * Microsoft claims that [[http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-152099.html | OSS violates 235 (unspecified) patents]] (FUD)
97 Please help expand and verify this list!
98 Each claim should come with links to supporting material.