Microsoft Streamlines Volume Licensing Programs
,----[ Quote ]
| The company also faces pressure from changing industry dynamics where
| products are being licensed on a subscription basis rather than through
| complicated, long-term licenses.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070908/tc_pcworld/136975
Monopoly abuse (see the recent case from Norway, cited below).
Official: Zürich’s students get rid of “Windows Tax”
,----[ Quote ]
| Thanks to their efforts, students and staff in Zürich now have the freedom
| to /choose/ what software they want to run on their laptops.
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http://www.doink.ch/wp/?p=59
Related:
Microsoft bows to complaint from Linpro
,----[ Quote ]
| Schools will no longer be subjected to Windows licensing for Linux or Mac
| computers. Furthermore, Microsoft has accepted to discontinue their
| commercial bundling which required schools to buy several Microsoft
| products to obtain discounts.
`----
http://www.linpro.no/en/nyheter_og_events/2007/linpro_vant_frem_mot_microsoft
WEEE directive threatens Microsoft OEM sales
,----[ Quote ]
| There's a possibility Microsoft may well dump the OEM scheme and that
| could prompt small firms that don't want to be WEEEing to install Linux
| or even pirate OSes.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=40305
Intensified Battle Lines
,----[ Quote ]
| Some years back Open Source Industry Australia (OSIA) spokesperson
| Steven D'Aprano had posed a most intriguing question, "If Microsoft
| has a problem with piracy, it shouldn't be blamed on OEMs who sell
| PCs with Linux pre-installed or no operating system at all. Should
| we discourage supermarkets from selling plain bread, because
| shoppers might steal butter from elsewhere?"
|
| [...]
|
| For long now a tag has been associated with Linux. Industry players
| and resellers say Linux has become a smart, official, cheap and
| convenient form of piracy. The charge, is however, outrightly
| rejected by the Linux vendors.
|
| At their end, open source vendors will not miss an opportunity to
| assert that anyone who has benefited out of piracy is the
| proprietary vendors, like Microsoft.
|
| [...]
|
| Partners are already moving close to Linux vendors for various
| reasons. The days to come will, therefore, offer interesting
| battle lines unfolding between MS and open source players.
`----
http://www.channeltimes.com/India/Columns/Intensified_Battle_Lines/551-80562-751.html
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