-== Microsoft's dirty tactics against FreeSoftware ==
+== Microsoft's VS Free Software ==
+
+Why does Microsoft deserve special casing among all companies producing proprietary software? Because
+**Microsoft is the only company that actively and repeatedly tried for years to kill FreeSoftware and Linux.**
+
+This is a collection of a variety of strategies attempted by Microsoft
+against an extremely resilient competitor that couldn't be simply brought
+or driven to bankruptcy.
+
+steve_ballmer_bill_gates_i_wish_i_knew_how_to_quit_you.jpg
-{{steve_ballmer_bill_gates_i_wish_i_knew_how_to_quit_you.jpg}}
=== Targeting GNU/Linux ===
- * Linux is a Cancer (Steve Ballmer)
+ * [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/06/02/ballmer_linux_is_a_cancer/ | Linux is a Cancer]] -- Steve Ballmer, CEO (2001)
- * Linux is unamerican (Steve Ballmer)
-
- * Linux TCP/IP stack slower than Windows 2000's
+ * [[http://www.linux.com/feature/8374 | Linux is un-American]] -- Jim Allchin, Windows chief officer (2001)
- * Microsoft behind SCO's "smoking gun" claims against Linus Torvalds
+ * Microsoft suspected behind SCO's "smoking gun" attacks against Linus Torvalds
- * Trying to bribe Tanembaum against Linus Torvalds
+ * Microsoft paying a "think tank" to bribe Tanembaum to accuse Linus Torvalds of stealing Minix's code
* Software patent lobby at the EU parliament
* "Get the Facts!" (AKA "Get the FUD!") campaign
- * "We have the way out!" campagin with Unisys
+ * "We have the way out!" campaign with Unisys
=== Targeting Linux distributors ===
- * Paying Novell with the "vouchers" for unclear "interoperability" agreements
+ * 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)
- * Paying Novell again
+ * Paying Novell again (2008)
* Attempting to [[http://olpcnews.com/sales_talk/microsoft/how_microsoft_got_xp_on_the_xo.html | take over OLPC]] (2005)
+ * Attempted patent deal with [[http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/19/1720201 | Red Hat and Canonical]] (2007)
+
+
=== Targeting hardware vendors ===
* [[http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/15/technology/microsoft_olpc.fortune/index.htm | Undisclosed deal between Bill Gates and Nicholas Negroponte]], disrupting OLPC (2008)
* Dumping Linux in Australia on the Asus EEE PC (2008)
+=== Internet market share ===
+
+ * Commissioning [[http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/07/0531210 | biased benchmarks]] to make Windows look better than Linux (2005)
+
+ * 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)
+
+
=== Targeting Apple ===
* Fake "Mac switchers" campaign with stock photos of models
* Bribe PHP (2008)
- * $100K bribe to Apache Software Foundation (2008)
+ * [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/25/microsoft_gpl/ | $100K bribe to Apache Software Foundation]] (2008)
* The [[http://www.microsoft.com/uk/servers/winclientshearts/ | Windows loves PHP]] campaign to promote the WAMP platform (2008)
-=== Targeting OpenSource licenses ===
-
- * Claiming the GPL is invalid and unenforceable
+=== Targeting OpenSource licenses and development model ===
- * Halloween documents
+ * Claiming the GPLv3 is invalid and unenforceable (in the context of distributing the Novell "vouchers" to customers)
-=== Misc ===
+ * The [[http://www.catb.org/~esr/halloween/ | Halloween documents]] (1998-2004)
- * The (RED) campaign with the U2 (2008)
+ * Microsoft claims that [[http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-152099.html | OSS violates 235 (unspecified) patents]]
== Help wanted! ==
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