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Microsoft Uses Pseudo-journalist to Plant Stories (Comes exhibit PX04081, as text)

  • Subject: Microsoft Uses Pseudo-journalist to Plant Stories (Comes exhibit PX04081, as text)
  • From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:53:09 +0100
  • Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy
  • User-agent: KNode/0.10.9
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PLAINTIFF'S
EXHIBIT
4081
Comes vs. Microsoft

From: Doug Miller
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 12:03 PM
To: Stephanie Wettstein (Waggener Edstrom); Katrina Busch (Waggener Edstrom);
Chuck Humbie (Waggener Edstrom); Steve Aeschbacher (LCA)
Cc: David Martin (WINMKTG); Adam Sohn; Vivek Varma; Brian Schuster; Dan Nesult;
Dan Crouse (LCA); Tom Burt (LCA); Chris Meyers (LCA); Lisa Tanzi (LCA); Kim
Akers (WINDOWS); Tom Phillips; Carl Stork; Mike Porter; Bill Veghte; Brian
Valentine; Jim Ewel; Vivek Varma
Subject: FW: OSDL PR Plan - attorney client privileged

attorney client privileged

Stephanie/Kate/Chuck, please find attached the PR response plan for the
anticipated OSDL announcement. As discussed in our PR meeting this morning.
David & I have spoken with Maureen O'Gara (based on go ahead from BrianV) and
planted the story. She has agreed to not attribute the story to us. WaggEd
actions include reviewing the positioning, review the proposed buddy mail,
review Q&As, etc.

Privileged Material

Redacted

We expect this to leak later today. At that point we will proactively respond
or contact press with our positioning points.

OSDL PR Response Plan

Situation:
Microsoft expects

1. The public announcement (8:30 am Wed Aug. 30 2000) of the following
structure (referred to as OSDL) that is a consortium between Intel, Redhat,
IBM and HP

* Independent, limited # of employees, non-profit entity.
* Participiting companies contribute equipment and money
* Two levels: (i) founders/steering board, big $ contributors, (ii) general
members not steer but contribute technology, benefit from "the IP protection"

2. OSDL's operations guidelines will be to delop a set of infrastructure for
open source development projects, claim that target is very high end space
competing against UE10000.

3. OSDL to provide:

* IP buffer for the Open Source community -- "solving the IP problem of the
GPL" -- "to get around GPL issues".
* Linux primary beneficiary, other OSS projects could benefit.

4. OSDL's possible goals include:

* IP buffer. Ship GPL code unchanged without donating via GPL patents in that
code.
* Chip demand increase
* Converged Linux/GPL code base (required to make available to community)
* "Planned" releases, coordination, obvious OSS inertia and royalty savings
c.f. Windows
* Undifferentiated "subsidy" foundation for their "expensive" proprietary,
add-on products
* "Industry standard" APIs for add-on products (i) mitigating risk of drawing
of value-add products into the GPL, (ii) direct focus of OSS energy towards
slowing how much code flows into the GPL to preserve opportunity for expensive
add-on products.

Objectives:

Reduced potential negative PR to Microsoft, reinforce our message that we are
here now with customer solutions and question the customer value of this
announcement. 

Actions:

Positioning:

1. The drive to build the Next Generation Internet is happening now.

* Microsoft always welcomes fair competition, as in the end this benefits
customers.
* Microsoft is in the best position today, to go after this business and solve
real customer business problems
* Microsoft focuses on customer solutions, rather than "fashion" technologies
* We have good relationships with Intel, IBM, HP and others who are having
great success solving business

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
MS-PCA 2599420

<hr />

customer needs today with Windows 2000.

2. Bad news for Sun & GPL

3. Old UNIX guard attempting to hijack Linux to go after Sun

* This will drive a wedge between the original Linux champions who are
for "free" software and the established commercial UNIX "old guard" further
confusing customers
* Old UNIX guard want to adopt the UNIX business model where they provide
proprietary differentiation on top of a common base as they realize they can't
add any competitive differentiation under the GPL.
* Appears to be business as usual for the fragmented UNIX market and very
reminiscent of previous UNIX alliances.

4. These types of alliances ultimately do not benefit customers and have
historically been prone to failure (OSF all over again for example)

* Customers want solutions today and clearly it will take a long time for this
new group to produce viable production quality, customer-ready solutions.
* Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, himself recently said Linux was 5-10
years behind Windows.
* Linux and Open Source are supposed to be all about "free" technology and no
one group having competitive advantage. This new alliance seems to go against
these principles.
* What about HP-UX, IBM AIX and the IA-64 Monterey project? Are these dead? HP
and IBM have said in the past that those platforms are what they are using to
target the high-end UNIX segment. 

Tactics:

* Confirm Compaq and Dell are not part of this announcement and are informed of
Microsoft's position. Owner: Compaq - jime, Dell adamso
* Inform Maureen O' Gara (Senior Editor Client Server News/LinuxGram) or John
Markoff (NYT) of announcement on Aug 28, 2000. Owner dougmil (Approval
received from BrianV to proceed)
* Contact Eric Raymond, Tim O'Reilly or Bruce Perrins to solicit support for
this going against the objectives of the Open Source movement. Owner: dougmil
[Doug Miller]. Note that I will not be doing this. Maureen O' Gara said she
was going to call them so it looks better coming from her.
* Issue "buddy mail" to target press list at the time of the announcement and
begin to proactively call-down to editors immediatley after announcement made.
Owner: davidmar
* Contact analysts (Summit Strategies or Creative Strategies) for their
assessment of implications. Owner: davidmar

Publication call-down:

potential press list only - confirmation required by Waggener Edstrom

[Contacts_xls]

Buddy Mail:

[icon]
Old UNIX guard
Hijacks Linux

Rude Q&A:

Q. So what does Microsoft think of this announcement?
A. Microsoft welcomes healthy competition but we don't see how this will
benefit customers. Groups like these typically take years to get their act
together -- for example OSF, the Open Group, iABI, the ACE initiative, the
UNIX SVR4 "Destiny" project, etc. Microsoft has solutions for customers today.

Q. What does this say about your OEM relationship?
A. Microsoft has healthy relationships with IBM, HP, Intel and have they
substantial successful businesses based around Windows solutions. I'm sure
their commitment to Microsoft technologies will not be affected by this
announcement.

Q. Is Microsoft developing a version of Office for Linux?
A. No, we have not seen volume demand for this in the commercial marketplace.

Q.There seems to be a momentum behind Linux based research from IDC and
Netcraft
A. Netcraft recently revised their methodology to more accurately describe
sites actually being used by customers. Windows and Linux have approximately
the same number of active sites however the big news is Microsoft technology
is running half of the servers that power the Internet. Many of these servers
are predominantly deployed within the Fortune 500 and other major businesses
around the world. IDC's recent research highlights the number of 

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
MS-PCA 2599421

<hr />

copies of Linux distributed -- however given that Linux is free, this by no
means represents real-world usage of Linux as a production operating system.

Q. Does Microsoft have plans to open source any of it's products?
A. Microsoft have a number of source programs today for customers and
developers. We are continually listening to feedback from customers on how
best to help them provide great solutions on Windows platforms.

Questions for the press to ask OSDL:
Q. What about other UNIX offerings (AIX, HP/UX, Monterey) from the
participants?
Q. How does this play versus all the other announced initiatives (LSB, GNOME
Foundation, Trillian, etc...)
Q. This sounds like a closed club -- we thought the whole point of open source
was is open for anyone to join?
Q. Isn't OSDL simply another well-funded Redhat
Q. Does this indicate that RedHat's existing business model is untenable?
Q. Did OSDL founders consult Linux Torvald, Eric Raymond, Bruce Perens, et al.
re appropriateness and objectives of OSDL formation?
Q. What is the corporate structure of OSDL? Who owns it? Who controls it? Will
OSDL make the agreements between its founding members public?
Q. Can other companies join OSDL and, if so, what types of participation are
possible?
Q. Would OSDL consent to OSS community oversight?
Q. Who will control the work done by OSDL? Will OSDL work be "open" to public
inspection, i.e., conducted on the web with unrestricted public access? If
not, why not?
Q. Who will have ownership of IP relevant to code developed by OSDL? What about
code contributed to OSDL?
Q. Will all code released by OSDL be released under the GPL? If not, what code
will be subject to different terms/conditions, what terms/conditions will
apply, and who will decide what code to except from the GPL?
Q. How can OSDL avoid the code it releases being subject to the GPL if OSDL is
modifying GPL code?
Q. Will OSDL provide any representations/warranties/indemnification that code
released by OSDL is free from infringements?

Doug Miller mailto: [redacted]@microsoft.com
Microsoft Corporation / [redacted address, phone, fax, cell/pager number]

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
MS-PCA 2599422

<hr />

Publication             Type            Position                Disposition     First Name      Last Name       e-mail address
(addresses redacted)

ABCNews.com             Press                                                   Johnathon       Dupe            
Aberdeen                Analyst                                                 Joe             Clabby
AP                      Press                                                   Cliff           Edwards
AP                      Press                                                   Michael         Martinez
AP                      Press                                                   Martha          Mendoza
Bloomberg               Press                                                   David           Ward
Boston Globe            Press                                                   Hiawatha        Bray
Business Week           Press                                   Balanced        Mike            Moeller
Business Week           Press                                   Balanced        Dennis          Berman
Business Week           Press                                   Negative        Steve           Wildstrom
Business Week           Press                                                   Jay             Greene
Business Week           Press                                                   Steve           Haram
Business Week           Press                                                   Kathy           Rebello
C/Net                   Press                                   Negative        Shankland       Stephen
C/Net                   Press                                                   Stephanie       Miles
C/Net                   Review                                  Balanced        Jessica         Branson
Chicago Tribune         Press                                                   James           Coates
CIO Magazine            Press                                                   Polly           Schneider
CNBC                    Press                                                   Renay           San Miguel
Computer Reseller News  Press                                   Balanced        Barb            Darrow
Computer Reseller News  Press                                   Negative        Paula           Rooney
Computer Reseller News  Review                                  Balanced        John            Yacena
Computer Reseller News  Review                                  Balanced        Eric            Eigar
Computer World          Press                                   Negative        David           Orenstein
Computer World          Press           Senior Writer                           Dominique       Declumyn
Computer World          Review                                  Balanced        Cynthia         Morgan
Computer World          Review                                  Balanced        Russell         Kay
Dallas Morning News     Press                                                   Jean Nash       Johnson
DataQuest               Analyst                                 Balanced        Chris           Le Toq
DataQuest               Analyst                                 Balanced        Kim             Brown
Dow Jones               Press                                                   Mark            Boslet
Dow Jones               Press                                                   Rick            Jergends
Eastside Journal        Press                                                   Clayton         Park
ENT Mag                 Press                                                   Tom             Sullivan
ENT Mag                 Press                                                   Brian           Ploskina
Fin. Times of London    Press                                   Louise          Kehoe
Forbes                  Press                                   Balanced        Julie           Pitla
Forbes                  Press                                                   Elizabeth       Corcoran
Forbes                  Press                                                   Dan             Lyons
Forbes                  Review                                  Negative        Steve           Manes
Fortune                 Press                                   Balanced        David           Kirkpatrick
Fortune                 Press                                   Negative        Jodi            Mardesich
Fortune                 Review                                  Negative        Joel            Dreyfuss
Gartner                 Analyst                                 Balanced        Joel            Barkin
Gartner                 Analyst                                 Negative        George          Weiss
Gartner                 Analyst                                                 Kathryn         Russell
Gartner                 Analyst                                                 Michael         Gartenberg
Giga                    Analyst                                 Balanced        Rob             Enderle
Giga                    Analyst                                 Negative        Stacy           Quandt
Houston Chronical       Press                                   Dwight          Silverman
IDC                     Analyst                                 Balanced        Bill            Peterson  (Went to Turbo Linux)
IDC                     Analyst                                 Negative        Dan             Kusnetzky
IDC                     Analyst                                                 Al              Gillen
Industry Standard       Press                                                   Alex            Lash
Information Week        Press                                   Balanced        Rick            Whitting
Information Week        Press                                                   Aaron           Ricardela
Information Week        Press                                                   Stephanie       Stahl
Information Week        Review                                  Balanced        Logan           Harbaugh
InfoWorld               Press           Editorial Director      Balanced        Ed              Scannell
InfoWorld               Press                                                   Bob             Trott
InfoWorld               Review                                                  Dan             Sommer
InfoWorld               Review                                  Balanced        John            Brodrick
InfoWorld               Review                                  Balanced        Mark            Pace
InfoWorld               Review                                                  Kevin           Railsback
Interactive Week        Press                                                   Charlie         Babcock
Internet Week           Press           Senior Editor                           Nick            Turner
LA Times                Press                                                   Stanley         Holmes


HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
MS-PCA 2599423

<hr />


Meta                    Analyst                                 Balanced        Steve           Clayhans
Meta                    Analyst                                                 Doug            Lynn    (Recommended by Mike Pettyjohn (Netcraft)
Meta                    Analyst                                                 Peter           Firstbrook
MSNBC                   Press                                                   Bob             Sullivan
MSNBC                   Press                                                   Marty           Wolk
Network Computing       Review                                  Balanced        Art             Wittman
Network Computing       Review                                  Balanced        Fritz           Nelson
Network Computing       Review          Sr. Tech. Editor                        Ron             Anderson
Network Computing       Review          Contrib. Editor                         Peter           Morrisey
Network World           Press           Senior Editor                           John            Fontana
Network World           Review                                  Balanced        Lee             Schlesinger
New York Daily News     Press                                                   Nancy           Dillon
New York Times          Press                                                   Steve           Lohr
New York Times          Press                                                   John            Markoff
New York Times          Review                                  Negative        Pete            Lewis
PC Magazine             Review                                  Balanced        Michael         Miller
PC Magazine             Review                                  Balanced        Steve           Rigney
PC Magazine             Review                                  Balanced        Ben             Gottesman
PC Magazine             Review                                  Balanced        David           Lidsky
PC Magazine             Review                                  Balanced        Steve           Buehler
PC Magazine             Review                                  Balanced        Larry Seltzer   Miller
PC Week                 Press                                   Balanced        Scott           Berinato
PC Week                 Review                                  Balanced        John            Teschek
PC Week                 Review                                  Balanced        Pankaj          Chowdhry
PC Week                 Review                                  Balanced        Henry           Baltazar
PC Week                 Press                                                   Grant           Dubois
PC World                Press                                                   Harry           McCracken
PC World                Press                                                   Julian          Milenbach
PC World                Press                                                   Scott           Spanbauer
Reuters                 Press                                                   Dick            Satran
Reuters                 Press                                                   Chris           Stetkiewicz
San Diego Unuin Tribune Press                                                   Mike            Drummond
San Francisco Chronicle Press                                                   Benny           Evangelista
San Francisco Examiner  Press                                                   Al              Saracevic
San Jose Mercury News   Press                                                   Cecilia         Kang
Seattle PI              Press                                                   Dan             Richman
Seattle Times           Press                                                   Paul            Andrews
Sm@rt Reseller          Press                                                   Mary Jo         Foley
Small Bus. Tech. Report Press                                                   Ramon           Ray
Tacoma News Tribune     Press                                                   Christine       Carson
TechWeb                 Press           Software Editor                         Stuart          Glascock
Time                    Review                                  negative        Josh            Quittner
US News & World Report  Press                                                   Susan Gregory   Thomas
USA Today               Press                                                   Deborah         Solomon
USA Today               Review                                                  Bruce           Schwartz
Wall Street Journal     Press                                   Balanced        David           Hamilton
Wall Street Journal     Press                                   Negative        Lee             Gomes
Wall Street Journal     Press           Staff Reporter                          David           Bank  
Wall Street Journal     Review                                  Negative        Walt            Mossberg
Washington Post         Press                                                   David           Streitfeld  
Windows NT Magazine     Review                                                  David           Chernicoff
Wired                   Press                                                   John            Gartner
Wired                   Press                                                   Chris           Jones
Wired                   Press                                                   Chris           Oakes
Yankee Group            Analyst                                                 Eric            Klein
ZD AnchorDesk           Press                                                   Jesse           Berst
ZD AnchorDesk           Press                                                   Liz             Enbysk
ZDNet                   Press                                                   Lisa            Bowman

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
MS-PCA 2599424

<hr />

Subject: Old Guard UNIX hijacks Linux
Editor: 

No doubt you have already heard the announcement of the latest Linux consortium
(ODL) between Intel, Red Hat, IBM, and HP.

The purpose of this email is to give you Microsoft's perspective on ODL:

1. The drive to build the Next Generation Internet is happening now
* Microsoft is in the best position today, to go after this business and solve
real customer business problems
* Microsoft focuses on customer solutions, rather than "fashion" technologies
* Microsoft welcomes fair competition as in the end this benefits customers
* We have excellent relationships with Intel, IBM, HP and others who are having
great success solving business customer needs today with Windows 2000.
2. Bad news for Sun & GPL
3. Old UNIX guard attempting to hijack Linux to go after Sun
* This will drive a wedge between the original Linux champions who are
for "free" software and the established commercial UNIX "old guard" further
confusing customers
* Old UNIX guard want to adopt the UNIX business model where they provide
proprietary differentiation on top of a common base as they realize they can't
add any competitive differentiation under the GPL
* Almost business as usual for the fragmented UNIX market and very reminiscent
of previous UNIX alliances.
4. The consortiums ultimately do not benefit customers and have historically
been prone to failure (OSF all over again for example)
* Customer want solutions today not have to wait for protagonists, politics and
glacial inefficiencies
* Linus himself recently said Linux was 5-10 years behind Windows.
* Linux and Open Source are supposed to be all about free technology and no one
group having competitive advantage
* What about HP-UX, IBM AIX and the IA-64 Monterey Project?  Are these now
dead? HP and IBM have said in the past that those platforms are what they are
using to target the high end UNIX segment.

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to speak with a
Microsoft spokesperson. I would be happy to arrange this.

Best Regards,

MS-PCA 2599425
HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

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