p2pnet - rss feed: Ballmer’s Asia intimidation
p2pnet.net News View:- “Ballmer is also in the business of putting the willies up organisations who are considering stepping out from the Microsoft camp and investing in Open Souce.”
That’s how PC Pro describes Microsoft ceo Steve Balmer’s statement, yesterday, that Linux violates some 228 existing software patents, and that Asian governments could face intellectual property rights claims if they use it.
He throws the cat amongst the pigeons and then sits back, rubbing his hands gleefully, waiting for results.
It’s not unlike the entertainment industry’s recent moves via its MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) and RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).
The Big Four record label cartel and seven major movie studios use the media to issue prosecution warnings meant to intimidate people into buying their increasingly unpopular products, and to beat out the competition - p2p, in the case of the entertainment industry, and open source, for Microsoft.
However, the mainstream media notwithstanding, all both these gigantic corporate entities are succeeding in doing is to add to the already vast reservoirs of bad feeling and to alienate even more existing and potential buyers.
Critical mass is building in both instances and although neither the studios, labels nor Microsoft are likely to disappear, their influence - and sales - will continue to erode in direct proportion to their bullying strategies.
===================
See:-
Linux violates - Ballmer’s Asian IP warning set to backfire, PCÂ Pro, November 19, 2004
prosecution warnings - RIAA sues another 761 file sharers, p2pnet, November 18, 2004
