Linux Receives 20th Birthday Video From Microsoft 368
moonbender writes "The Linux kernel has received birthday wishes from an unexpected direction — a video animation from Microsoft. Quoting The H: 'The video picks up on the strained relationship between Microsoft and Linux by displaying the phrase "Microsoft Vs. Linux" and then showing Tux, the Linux mascot, turning his back on the offer of a birthday cake from Microsoft. After a brief outline of the history between Microsoft and Linux, the video ends with a conciliatory gesture: Tux accepts the birthday cake in his igloo and the video ends with "Happy Birthday" and the editing of the initial phrase to "Microsoft and Linux?' The Linux Foundation has more stuff celebrating the kernel's 20th birthday."
Re:Everybody aboard the tinfoilhat-train! (Score:4, Informative)
I read this as a slight against Linux. It is disrespect--they go hide in their igloos and eat the cake in secret?
I think the general philosophy that has clearly been reiterated by the Linux community is there is absolutely no room for trust in Microsoft. They are a convicted monopolist and have called upon everyone to view Linux as a cancer. They continue to use their patents to extort payment from large and small with bogus insubstantiated claims against Linux. They are the company that uses embrace extend extinguish. This animation represents the same underhanded intentions.
Re:There is no Microsoft vs Linux (Score:5, Informative)
Quoting Linus Torvalds:
Really, I'm not out to destroy Microsoft. That will just be a completely unintentional side effect.
Re:Why does anyone think this video is from Micros (Score:5, Informative)
Actually, I just noticed it was posted to the Linux Video site by MicrosoftGermany [linux.com]. Wonder how much the mothership knew about this one?
Yes there is (Score:5, Informative)
There may not be a Linux vs Microsoft fight, but there is definitely a Microsoft vs Linux fight. In their own words:
* OSS poses a direct, short-term revenue and platform threat to Microsoft, particularly in server space. Additionally, the intrinsic parallelism and free idea exchange in OSS has benefits that are not replicable with our current licensing model and therefore present a long term developer mindshare threat.
* OSS projects have been able to gain a foothold in many server applications because of the wide utility of highly commoditized, simple protocols. By extending these protocols and developing new protocols, we can deny OSS projects entry into the market.
* They have paid for numerous "independent" studies to show that Linux and LAMP are inferior to Windows and IIS.
* Leaked emails have shown them to have been funneling money to SCO via Baystar.
* They continue to spread FUD about patent licensing, and have sued major Android manufacturers for patent royalties.
They clearly see this as an Us vs Them situation. We don't have to respond likewise, but it would be foolish not to acknowledge their intentions.