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OVERVIEW The first Halloween document, requested by senior vice-president (cached by Archive.org on 04 June 2001). Marked "Microsoft confidential", they identify open-source software, and in particular the Linux operating system, as a major threat to Microsoft's dominance of the software industry, and suggest ways in which Microsoft could disrupt the progress of open source software. These documents acknowledged that Open Source / Free Software /Linux products were technologically competitive with some of Microsoft's products, and set out a strategy to combat them. The documents were embarrassing largely because they contradicted Microsoft's public pronouncements on the subject. Since the publication of the two original documents, a number of additional Microsoft memoranda on related topics have also been leaked and published (e.g. Halloween VII). Together, these documents demonstrate Microsoft's continued awareness that its open-source competitors are a potential threat to its livelihood in the software industry. THE DOCUMENTS The documents are from a variety of sources. Only some are leaked internal memos (documents I, II, VII, VIII, and X). One is a public statement (document III). The others are responses by Eric Raymond to various columns, news articles, and other works. Documents I and II These are leaked reports for Microsoft's own use, both written by Vinod Valloppillil, who was a Program Manager at Microsoft. Document I provides a detailed introduction to the concepts behind Open Source software, and its possible impact on Microsoft products and services. It outlines the strengths and weaknesses of Open Source software. Document II describes the basic architecture of the Linux system, its relation to Unix and Windows NT. Raymond suggests that the documents show that while Microsoft may be dismissive of open source software in public, it considers it a serious competitor in private. While discussing ways of competing with open source, Document I suggests that one reason that open source projects have been able to enter the market for Server s is the use of standardised protocols. It then suggests that this can be stopped by "extending these protocols and developing new protocols" and "de-commoditize protocols & applications." This policy has been nicknamed " Embrace, Extend, Extinguish ". Document I also suggests that open source software "is long-term credible ... FUD tactics can not be used to combat it," and "Recent case studies (the Internet) provide very dramatic evidence ... that commercial quality can be achieved / exceeded by OSS projects." Document I was filed as evidence on January 16th, 2007 in the current case of "Comes v. Microsoft" , and is available as a PDF here . Document III The statement from Aurelia van den Berg, the Press and Public Relations manager of Microsoft Netherlands, puts forward Microsoft's view on the first two documents. It says that the documents are not an "official position", but that "it is routine and appropriate" to research competitors. This statement is only a brief response, but many points were later incorporated into an official response from Microsoft. Document VII This document is a summary of the results of a survey of developers and IT managers, carried out by Microsoft, describing reactions to Microsoft's Shared Source program. Eric Raymond provides commentary suggesting ways that the open source community can promote itself based on the results of the survey. |
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