[oclug] MicroSoft says Linux, OpenSource threaten innovation

[bbarnett at l8r.net]

On 15-Feb-2001 Adrian Chung wrote:
> On Thu, Feb 15, 2001 at 04:55:47PM -0600, Mike Warnecke wrote:
>> While we might laugh, this line of propaganda is not stupid.  I think
>> they aim to make Linux and Open Source look like a foreign enemy against
>> the "American Way."  If they convince enough people, and enough
>> lawmakers this could turn ugly.
> 
> I disagree!  This line of propaganda *is* stupid.  The claims made in
> this article, especially the fact that open source "stifles
> innovation" is about the most unfounded claim about open source that
> I've heard in a long time.
> 
> How could this turn ugly?  Is the US government going to pass
> legislation stating that Open Source is illegal?  What's next?  No
> more free speech?
> 


I only have two points to make about this.  One is the very well heard and
common statement "If you tell a lie enough times, people start to believe it". 
The second has to do with the facist nature of the US.  Rights are often
suspended down there, whenever it becomes popular to do so.

Remember the hunt for the communists?  Black lists?  Citizens wrongly accused
and convicted?

Stuff like this just keeps happening down there...


>> I am still looking for something that they have truly "innovated."
>> Everything seems to be an incompatible facelift (just because she's
>> prettier doesn't mean she's better) of something someone else created.
>> I'll probably be waiting a long time.
> 
> They've had some good ideas, and I think lots of developers will agree
> that they've had some good ideas.  They just can't seem to implement
> them in a way that actually works. :)
> 
> It's interesting to recall that Miguel de Icaza's keynote speech at
> last year's OLS was all about how GNOME is copying Microsoft's ideas,
> but doing them better.
> 





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