MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-04-22 |
| FROM | From: "Adam Kosmin"
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| SUBJECT | Subject: (fwd) Re: [hangout] Microsoft speeds up "Open Source" campaign
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Fellow Ambassadors,
This editor needs to be held accountable for helping in Microsoft's plan to confuse the line that separates Shared Source and FOSS. Rather than overload this list with the emails that have been exchanged between myself, The New York Linux Scene (NYLXS), and certain representatives of this publication, I'll just say that a fair amount of tension has arisen and I've been given the impression that no correction will be made. Therefore, I'm calling out to the members of this group to stand up and hold this publication accountable by writing to Mike Magee at mike.magee-at-theinquirer.net
Here is the link, followed by my observations:
Microsoft speeds up "Open Source" campaign
Windows open in new office. Blind panic?
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=8992
1. The use of "Open Source" is inappropriate since Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative is an all together different animal. As such, the use
of "Open Source" (with or without quotes) provides a great opportunity to confuse newcomers. A casual glance at a headline like this inflicts damage on the FOSS community when the newcomer interprets the statement to mean "Microsoft is doing Open Source too.... YAY!".
2. The statement "Windows open in new office" is also very misleading. I'll admit that I had to read it at least a half dozen times before finally gaining an appreciation for the cute play on words that was used to describe the opening of a new Microsoft building. When viewed as a stand-alone statement, it presents too much opportunity for users to misinterpret the "openness" of the Windows OS and/or Microsoft Office.
3. "The only condition, according to this report, is that the different participants have to sign a contract before they start messing with the Windows code." This is so sugar-coated and void of detail, that I have to seriously entertain the notion that this entire piece was crafted in Redmond. What kind of contract? What are the terms of the contract? It appears that the existence of the non-disclosure agreement is being sidetracked when in fact, it should be shoved in the limelight.
Again, I urge the members of this list to take notice of this problem and demand correction. This "blurring of the lines" is the exact mission behind Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative and it is our responsibility to see that it does not happen. Feel free to pass this on to those that you think can both appreciate the severity of this issue and are prepared to take a stance.
All the best,
Adam Kosmin
" Microsoft Sets Up Office to Promote Open Source Campaign for Windows OS
"
" http://neasia.nikkeibp.com/wcs/leaf?CID=onair/asabt/news/242559
"
" ____________________________
" NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
" Fair Use -
" because it's either fair use or useless....
" NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
--
"Silly hacker, root is for administrators"
- Unknown
GnuPG Key : 11C2 79F6 BD3D 3A86 5640 3DA0 3860 B30E 711D 3B66
----- End forwarded message -----
--
"Silly hacker, root is for administrators"
- Unknown
GnuPG Key : 11C2 79F6 BD3D 3A86 5640 3DA0 3860 B30E 711D 3B66
____________________________
NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
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