Microsoft has once again demonstrated the strategic brilliance of it's "Embrace, Extend and Extinguish" philosophy. http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=4547
Steve Ballmer is easily ten steps ahead of Richard Stallman. By relicensing the download tool under the GPL, Microsoft perpetuates the myth that the "viral" property of the GPL is a legally valid construct. By encouraging open source authors to believe in the effectiveness of the GPL and reinforcing their philosophical beliefs, Microsoft helps ensure that no entrepreneurial upstart can enter the proprietary market to threaten it. Ballmer allows a small percentage of the OS market to Linux and Apple -- just enough to keep the Department of Justice's antitrust division off its back. The delusional predictions of "world dominance" by "Free" software advocates that have issued for the past decade are music to Microsoft's ears. Microsoft learned long ago that the effectiveness of exploiting peoples' emotions trumps the value of quality source code. Someone in Redmond is dancing and laughing to sweet refrains of "Where have all the flowers gone... When will they ever learn?". http://wp.appadvice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/steve-ballmer.jpg Sincerely, Rjack _______________________________________________ gnu-misc-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
