There is much noise (and deservedly) around Microsoft’s lashing out at Open Source and accusing it of violating 235 patents. The title of CNN Money article say it all – Microsoft takes on the free world.

I agree with Doc (who I hope will write more on this in Linux Journal) who quotes Cory Doctorow:

The Microsoft position is this: even if you
don’t use Windows, you still have to pay them as much money as they
would have gotten for selling you a copy of it.

Hugh is also uneasy about the move – not that he had any delusions that Microsoft is not capable of it, but to wonder what will happened to the people he works with. I have a few guesses but let’s hope for the best.

And to see the long-term, first you have to ask the following question: Who owns the soul of Microsoft?
The people with the Blue Monster cartoon on their screensavers? Bill,
Steve, Ray and the other guys living in the big houses? The lawyers?
The shareholders? I know which answer I prefer, but ultimately, they
have to answer it for themselves. And do it well.

Here is where things are at:

"The free world appears to be uncowed by Microsoft’s claims." Exactly. Nor should it be.

Rock on Jonathan:

All of which is to say – no amount of fear can stop the rise of free
media, or free software (they are the same, after all). The community
is vastly more innovative and powerful than a single company. And you
will never turn back the clock on elementary school students and
developing economies and aid agencies and fledgling universities – or
the Fortune 500 – that have found value in the wisdom of the open
source community. Open standards and open source software are literally
changing the face of the planet – creating opportunity wherever the
network can reach.

That’s not a genie any litigator I know can put back in a bottle.

And a geeky reminder of why Microsoft cannot win…

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