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● 03.08.08

●● A Letter from a Reader, About Miguel de Icaza

Posted in Free/Libre Software, GNOME, Microsoft, Mono, Novell at 11:49 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

In defense of a Microsoft victim?

Beneath lies a letter from a reader, which was edited just slightly (minor modifications). It present another interesting perspective.

Tone down the criticism of de Icaza in public. You see, by trashing de Icaza, we weaken Open Source and by implication help Microsoft. I can see Gartner quoting the ‘de Icaza’ issue in some future report.

=> Gartner

“Finally, he’s obviously been spending too much time with Microsoft and has ended up slightly brainwashed.”Microsoft engaging with Novell is a very clever move. If Mono becomes ubiquitous then Microsoft wins as well. If Novell becomes side-lined then Microsoft wins as well, as it’s one more Open Source player out of the market. A win-win strategy for Microsoft, only some devious bastard could have thought this one up ..

[In response to “You’re right. I told him some days ago he was a “pawn”, a one night stand (Microsoft’s own words in Comes vs Microsoft antitrust exhibits).”

In a historical context it would be interesting to ask him why he created Mono. Wouldn’t it have been more in Novell’s interest to create a truly open framework. What was Novell thinking in cloning .NET, did they have meetings with Microsoft? If not, then why not? What did the Novell lawyers think of the deal? Who suggested it first? When Microsoft found out, did they object or do the monkey dance? Taken with the more recent patent covenant, it is most curious.

[...]

Finally, he’s obviously been spending too much time with Microsoft and has ended up slightly brainwashed. That quote is precisely where Microsoft would like ‘open source’ to be at: “you’re free to tinker as long as we control, own and get the revenue from your work…”

“What you need to do is have a mixed strategy… and use open source as a tool,” said Miguel de Icaza.

Microsoft: Microsoft will indemnify you against getting sued.

Me: sued by who exactly?

Microsoft: getting sued by Microsoft…

Arguments in public can indeed be damaging. The next post will attempt to explain just why, but take a bit of a gamble. █

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