Just found the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfer
,----[ Quote ]
| In 2001, the Los Angeles Times accused Microsoft of astroturfing when
| hundreds of similar letters were sent to newspapers voicing disagreement
| with the United States Department of Justice and its antitrust suit against
| Microsoft. The letters, prepared by Americans for Technology Leadership,
| had in some cases been mailed to deceased citizens or incorrect addresses
| and had been remailed to newspapers, without correction, by the recipients.
| [3]
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Pointing to: http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/13046.html
Report: Phony 'Grassroots' Campaign Orchestrated by Microsoft
And I will never let go the following:
http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/gizmos/2005/11/2_grassroots_an.html
,----[ Quote ]
| "Some years back, Microsoft practiced a lot of dirty tricks using
| online mavens to go into forums and create Web sites extolling the virtues
| of Windows over OS/2. They were dubbed the Microsoft Munchkins, and it
| was obvious who they were and what they were up to. But their numbers
| and energy (and they way they joined forces with nonaligned dummies who
| liked to pile on) proved too much for IBM marketers, and Windows won
| the operating-system war through fifth-column tactics"
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