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Posted in Free/Libre Software, Interoperability, Marketing, Microsoft, Open XML, OpenDocument at 8:37 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Signs of more potential AstroTurfing despite the illegality of the practice
THIS MORNING we got warned about someone called “Ghettoblaster“, whose documented edits in Wikipedia resemble those of Albert Zonneveld (better known as "hAl"). It is a well-documented fact that Microsoft offered money for supposedly “independent” consultants to edit Wikipedia regarding document formats (Microsoft's PR department does the very same thing in Wikipedia). And now that ODF (the real ODF) is gaining great traction Microsoft is determined to ruin interoperability and give it a bad name with its pseudo-ODF (MSODF [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]). This is not surprising because Microsoft fought against ODF all along [1, 2].
=> ↺ documented edits in Wikipedia | better known as "hAl" | a well-documented fact | Microsoft's PR department | the very same thing in Wikipedia | ↺ gaining great traction | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | not surprising | 1 | 2
Assuming that Microsoft is still paying people to do its dirty laundry (see related links at the bottom of this post), the FTC wants to know about it and maybe have them criminalised (which quite frankly is doubtful given the FTC's track record). A reader has just shared with us the following article from the business press:
=> ↺ and maybe have them criminalised | the FTC's track record
Blogola: The FTC Takes On Paid PostsThe Federal Trade Commission wants bloggers to disclose when they’ve been wooed with cash or freebies from companies they cover
It is rarely being discussed that Microsoft is literally buying journalists, adding them to its staff. We gave an example last year and back in 2007 Microsoft was looking for an “open source” journalist to join its ranks. Jon Udell was named as an option and it turns out now that indeed he is working for Microsoft right now.
=> gave an example last year | ↺ he is working for Microsoft right now
In January 2007, Udell joined Microsoft as a writer, speaker, and producer of another series of interviews: Perspectives. This show features projects in which Microsoft works with partners — universities, governments, NGOs — to develop new and socially impactful uses of its technology portfolio.
Wonderful. So people in the media get acquired by Microsoft, then use their media skills and connections to the advantage of one single corporation which breaks the law. Add this to the the pro-Microsoft trolls in USENET, one of whom was explored the other day by one of our regular readers.
=> ↺ breaks the law | the pro-Microsoft trolls in USENET | ↺ explored the other day by one of our regular readers
Desperation by the MS faithful? I think so, I’d love to hear your opinions.
Those who are uninitiated when it comes to AstroTurf tactics at Microsoft are advised to read the posts below. This is not a myth but a reality. It has got to be stopped. █
Related posts:
LawMedia Group May be Another Confirmed Microsoft AstroTurfing AgencyThe Microsoft Connection with Dewey Square Group and DCI/New MediaMicrosoft ‘Bribes’ Mac Bloggers to Slam Apple, Gartner Hosts Google FUDMicrosoft, TCS, DCI, Edelman, and Those Fake Letters About IP/SCO/MonopolyJames Plamondon: Microsoft GuerrillaFullSIX and Mr. Youth LLC May Be Ruining the Web (AstroTurfing) on Microsoft’s BehalfMicrosoft: 800 lb. GuerrillaAstroturfing Examples: Learning How Microsoft Tames the InternetWaggener Edstrom, Maureen O’Gara and Other Microsoft ShillsPartial Index: Summary of Bribed Sites, Journalists, and Bloggers (Vista 7)Waggener-Edstrom Behind the 2008 Laptop Bribes, Edelman Behind 2006′sManipulation, Astroturfing, and What Governments Can DoBeware the OOXML AstroTurfer: “The Wraith”, “multivac1”, “hAl”, Among Other NymsMicrosoft May Have Bribed India for OOXML PressureMicrosoft Has Been Rigging Votes/Polls for AgesGary M. Stewart (aka “Flatfish”) About Microsoft AstroTurfing: “It’s made me A LOT of money….”Former Microsoft Shill Openly Confesses, Alleges Microsoft Still Does ThisRespecting AstroTurfers?Some New (But Very Old) Microsoft AstroTurfing ExamplesJoe Barr, Linux.com Editor – My ObituaryJoe Barr Knew Microsoft’s Tactics All Too Well66 Pages of Microsoft EvilnessAnother AstroTurf Scam Exposed?Quick Mention: Sony is AstroTurfing, Just Like MicrosoftMemo to Novell: Leave YouTube AloneMicrosoft Blast from the Past: Ads Banned for Spurring ViolenceIs YouTube’s “NovellVideo” a Novell AstroTurfer?Microsoft/Munchkin ‘Breaks’ the Web to Break Open Document Standards (Again)Rob Enderle Guarantees “Amazing Numbers”, Show E-mails to MicrosoftMicrosoft Agents from Waggener Edstrom Airbrush Wikipedia, Glorify PaymasterMicrosoft Unleashes Proxies at Journalists to Defend Vulnerable VistaMicrosoft’s OOXML Viral Marketing Reaches YouTube
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