Open Source Weblog

Yesterday Carmony wrote:

“So, about a year and a half ago, I contacted Microsoft and asked for a meeting to discuss how we could work together to make a "better" Linux. I was confident Microsoft would welcome my invitation, because I knew there could be an economic incentive for them to do so. As I had expected, they welcomed my call, and I immediately flew to Redmond for the first of many meetings over the following months, taking place in both Redmond and San Diego, culminating in this week's announced partnership.”

Sounds like a productive relationship. It is somewhat surprising then that in the middle of these many meetings, Carmony wrote:

“Linspire has had many meetings with Microsoft to try and solve media, document, and DRM interoperability problems. Our experience has been that Microsoft gives a lot of lip service to wanting to work with open source Linux, but then proceeds to drag their feet and delay in actually delivering anything meaningful.”

Yesterday Linspire announced:

“Linspire will join with Novell Inc., Microsoft and other companies to develop and distribute open source-licensed translators that allow OpenOffice and Microsoft Office users to better share documents. These efforts will enhance customer choice by enabling effective translation between Ecma Open XML and OpenDocument Format documents.”

In November, Carmony wrote:

“(Does anyone following ODF believe Microsoft's proposed "open standards" are really open, or just self-serving?) Given their history, I'm understandably very skeptical that Microsoft sincerely wants to do much here. They'll do a few inconsequential things, again, to give the impression they're trying to interoperate, but they'll continue to protect the turf that matters most to them; their staggeringly profitable Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office dominions.”

Yesterday Lindows announced:

“Linspire now joins a growing group of open source software (OSS) distributors collaborating with Microsoft on efforts to establish rich interoperability, deliver IP assurance to customers and build the bridge between open source and proprietary software.”

In November Carmony wrote:

“Part of the agreement extends IP protection for Novell's Linux products. This is the part of the announcement that concerns me and perhaps contained Microsoft's hidden agenda. This part of their agreement, by its very nature, suggests two things: 1) that Microsoft HAS IP in open source Linux, and 2) that Microsoft should be paid a licensing fee for this IP. I don't think the rest of the world agrees with these points, or that they've ever been proven in any court...”

“Don't get me wrong. I believe any company has a right to protect their IP. I would just rather have an outside source, such as the court system or discussion with the broader Linux companies, determine the extent of any Microsoft IP in Linux. This way, such IP could be removed or alternatives and pricing considered in an open environment, not behind closed doors at Novell and Microsoft headquarters.”

I could go on, but I think you get the point. Instead I’ll close with a quotation that Carmony himself chose to begin his response to the Microsoft/Novell deal:

“Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think that you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong."
Francisco d'Anconia (Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged)