On nefarious business practices

Recently Novell made a deal with Microsoft whereby Novell would pay Microsoft in order to prevent litigation because of "infringing code" in Novell's Suse Linux product. Novell's payment was something in the ballpark of 40+ million dollars. Microsoft paid Novell $348 million. Somehow, I don't think Novell will be missing that 40 million.

If Suse Linux (and Linux distributions made by other companies) contains code patented by Microsoft, why not prove it before threatening various Linux vendors with lawsuits? Before Novell, Microsoft allegedly approached Red Hat, which rightly told them to sod off. My guess is that Microsoft wants to finally deal a blow to Linux by getting its tendrils in the market via Novell. Poor, greedy Novell thinks it's going to become the premier Linux provider, when in reality they'll be screwed over once this four year deal is over with. Microsoft can extort as much as they want from them when it's time to renegotiate over the non-existent infringing code. Novell can't pay up, so MS can swallow them to become Microsoft Linux.

What Microsoft wants to do is plant the seeds of doubt in the business IT world: "If we use (insert name of non-Suse Linux distro here) on our network, we can be sued by Microsoft!" If companies should have learned one thing during the 90s, it's beware of Microsoft bearing gifts. Ask IBM, who got burned very badly by MS with OS/2. Ask Apple, who had their GUI copied by a supposedly trusted software developer. More recently, ask the various PlaysForSure media player partners Microsoft had. They worked with MS to create an inter operable digital rights management "ecosystem" where everyone could co-exist and profit. WRONG: Microsoft decides it wants to enter the media player market with the Zune. Guess which format the Zune doesn't support? PlaysForSure. It only plays Microsoft's own, new DRM system.

Microsoft doesn't care about compatibility between Windows and Linux. It views Linux as a threat in the business and web servers arenas. Something like 70% of the web runs on Linux and Apache. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's boneheaded, sweat-stained CEO, has stated on numerous occasions that Linux is a problem. Even going so far as to label it communist.

Novell should prepare for customers abandoning them in droves. People who care about open source software and what it means will smell this sour deal from a mile away. This move will have the exact opposite effect they wanted. I'm sure Red Hat will appreciate the business.

Update: I just saw this article on CNET. 80% of IT professionals say they'd adopt a Linux that was "safe" in terms of intellectual property? Come on. I'm 100% certain Microsoft paid that research company to say that. They've paid for anti-Linux FUD from supposedly impartial studies before. By adopting this stuff your business is at Microsoft's mercy and your licensing costs will go through the roof.