>Thought ya'll might enjoy this one...
>
> >X-Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.0
> >Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 12:34:27 -0500
> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >From: Ted Hanss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Subject: Bizarre quotes from MS regarding open source
> >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> >Redmond, Washington, Feb. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp.'s Windows
> >operating-system chief, Jim Allchin, says that freely distributed software
> >code such as rival Linux could stifle innovation and that legislators need
> >to understand the threat.
> >
> >Story Link:
> >http://investor.cnet.com/investor/news/newsitem/0-9900-1028-4825719-0.html
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 2/14/01 4:57 PM
> > Source:Bloomberg News
> >
> > Redmond, Washington, Feb. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp.'s Windows
> > operating-system chief, Jim Allchin, says that freely distributed software
> > code such as rival Linux could stifle innovation and that legislators
> > need to understand the threat.
> >
> > The result will be the demise of both intellectual property rights and
> > the incentive to spend on research and development, he said yesterday,
> > after the
> > company previewed its latest version of Windows. Microsoft has told
> > U.S. lawmakers of its concern while discussing protection of intellectual
> > property
> > rights.
> >
> >
> > Linux is developed in a so-called open-source
> > environment in which the software code generally isn't owned by any one
> > company. That, as well as programs such as
> > music-sharing software from Napster Inc., means the world's largest
> > software maker has to do a better job of talking
> > to policymakers, he said.
> >
> > ''Open source is an intellectual-property
> > destroyer,'' Allchin said. ''I can't imagine something that could be
> > worse than this
> > for the software business and the
> > intellectual-property business.''
> >
> > Microsoft distributes some of its programs
> > without charge to customers, although it generally doesn't release its
> > programming code, and it retains the ownership
> > rights to that code. Linux is the most widely known open-source
> > product, though other programs including the
> > popular Apache system for Web server computers also are developed the
> > same way.
> >
> > Corel Inquiry
> >
> > Allchin made his comments several hours before
> > Microsoft confirmed that its $135 million investment in software maker
> > Corel Corp. last October is being reviewed by the
> > U.S. Justice Department. Corel said last month it willl drop efforts to
> > develop the Linux operating system, though it
> > will continue to make Linux applications. Corel said it hadn't consulted
> > with Microsoft before making that decision.
> >
> > Brian Behlendorf, founder of open-source company
> > CollabNet Inc., said most companies that use the open-source
> > development model do retain the rights to some of
> > their intellectual property.
> >
> > ''I think Microsoft is trying to paint the
> > open-source community as being fascist; that all software have has to be
> > free, or
> > none of it can be,'' said Behlendorf, whose
> > company helps businesses run their own open-source projects.
> >
> > Allchin said he's concerned that the open-source business model could
> > stifle initiative in the computer industry.
> >
> > ''I'm an American, I believe in the American Way,'' he said. ''I worry
> > if the government encourages open source, and I don't think we've done
> enough
> > education of policy makers to understand the threat.''
> >
> > Linux Adoption
> >
> > Some leading computer companies including International Business
> > Machines Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. are selling Linux- based
> products and
> > working on open-source projects, noted Jeremy Allison, a VA Linux
> > Systems Inc. software developer. He's also a leader in a project develop an
> > open-source file and printer server program.
> >
> > Microsoft only began significant lobbying efforts in the last few
> > years. The Redmond, Washington-based company also talks to lawmakers
> > about issues
> > including the need for more visas for people with computer skills and
> > computer privacy and security.
> >
> > Linux is the fastest-growing operating system program for running
> > server computers, according to research firm IDC. It accounted for 27
> > percent of unit
> > shipments of server operating systems in 2000. Microsoft's Windows was
> > the most popular on that basis, with 41 percent.
> >
> > Despite Linux's success in some markets, Allchin says he isn't
> > concerned about sales competition from the product. Microsoft provides
> > support to
> > change and develop products based on its operating system software that
> > Linux companies don't, he said. Companies that use Linux in their products
> > then must pay someone else for support, he said.
> >
> > ''We can build a better product than Linux,'' he said. ''There is
> > always something enamoring about thinking you can get something for free.''
> >
