Microsoft reveals anti-Linux tactics


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A leaked e-mail sent by one of Microsoft?s top executives encouraged steep discounting when bidding against retailers of the Linux operating system ? which may be a practice in breach of European competition rules.

The e-mail memo was sent last July but leaked this week and reported in the International Herald Tribune and New York Times.

According to the newspapers the head of worldwide sales, Orlando Ayala, sent the e-mail to fellow senior executives. It instructed that if a sale to a government or institution was falling through then executives could withdraw from a special fund in order to discount the software - or even offer it free if that was needed.

In particular the e-mail stated, ?Under NO circumstances lose against Linux?.

Microsoft has long denied that Linux and the open source software community are a threat but according to The Register, Steve Bullmer finally came clean at a meeting in Berlin last week.

When asked about the attention Microsoft is now focusing on Linux as opposed to its earlier unconcerned attitude, The Register reports that Bullmer ?simply smiled and responded that 'we were neither unconcerned nor unaware of Linux; we just tried not to show it!'?

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Discounting by companies in a dominant position can be a breach of EU competition law if it is carried out to exclude a competitor rather than on the grounds of sales generation. This may result in more action against the company from the European Commission which has been investigating Microsoft since 1998 with a ruling due later this year.

View: Full Story

News Source: OUT-LAW

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so trying to make sure your market share is secure by using the same tactics every other company uses is against the law in europe? and i thought the middle east was ass-backwards :)

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