I normally do not make follow-up blog entries, but for once I need one. The response to Microsoft not-so-suddle attack on Linux recently by rattling its patent saber has been massive…
Perhaps Microsoft was unaware of the response their sneak attack would stir up, or they simply hoped to have kept it secret until more companies had been threatened into submission. The response from Sun Microsystems was direct and struck a chord. Microsoft are hurting their own customers and should have taking another path than the way of the courts, like Sun chose a few years back when struggling with innovation like Microsoft is currently. Meanwhile Open Invention Network has claimed to be ready to go after Microsoft with their many patents in a counter-suit, that might very well prove to be very expensive for Microsoft. In the end Microsoft might end up loosing control with large part of Windows’ code, as it is based on the standard foundation of operating systems, of which OIN owns many. At the same time one of the foundations Microsoft is using as a “basis” for their secretive patent threat/attack is the deal signed with Novell last year has been challenged by Novell itself, revealing that it does not accept the claims that Linux is in any way infringing on Microsoft’s IP. Microsoft is now in desperate need of some kind of backup for their claim, if they do not want to end up looking like a failure with no sense of direction or leadership in the market. Unfortunately for Microsoft it has become public that Microsoft tried to persuade a report author to let Microsoft use his report for marketing some kind of illegitimate claim that Linux was indeed infringing on the patents owned by Microsoft. Even worse it must have been when the author rejected Microsoft’s offer, saying that he would not allow them to misuse/lie with his material and then went public with Microsoft’s offer. Linus Thorvalds, the founder of Linux, also claims that Microsoft is merely spreading FUD on Linux, since they still refuse to disclose the actual claims to the public. Their case is looking weaker and weaker by the minute… heading quickly towards a direct embarrassment with incredible speed!
The response then finally came from Microsoft, when an executive quickly went public for saying that naturally Microsoft wouldn’t litigate on their claims… Looks like one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing in that company… Guess what Steve “Throwing Chairs” Ballmer would say to his shareholders now, after his big announcement that Linux is infringing and owes Microsoft a lot of money?!
While this case continues to embarrass Microsoft on front of the whole community and market the problems for their newest operating system, Windows Vista, continues to amass. The sales numbers for Vista has apparently already been reduced by 50% (in spite of all the hype), less than six months after its launch – and at the same time an annual survey among Microsoft’s customers show that they are becoming less and less satisfied with Microsoft and their products each year…
The signs are clear for Microsoft… They are looking desperate and they are loosing support and customers year after year, while Linux continues to march onward! Microsoft doesn’t know how to compete and their actions shows this quite clearly, coming with statement upon statement that continues to say different things. This is not what can be expected by a market leader but more like what you would expect from a company without a vision or momentum. When reduced to threatening your own customers back in line time and time again it is the signs of a company in deep trouble!
