FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Microsoft Acts Against Foreign Country's Best Interests, Yet Again.

7th September, 2005

In a recent move which is both patronising and yet another instance of
acting against the best interests of a foreign country, Microsoft is
backing a proxy war against Linux and open source software adoption in
China. 

"By using arguments that even the most ignorant IT professional would
recognise are bogus, the Microsoft-backed China Software Industry
Association (CSIA) is doing little more than insult the intelligence of
China's IT decision-makers[1]. This gaggle of tired anti-Linux falsities
were discredited years ago, yet are still trotted out as the only weapon
against Linux they have," said Con Zymaris, CEO of Cybersource, a
Linux business with fifteen years experience. "This attack is little
more than an incompetently executed anti-Linux hatchet job."

The reason for this sudden scaremongering? A projected 64% compound
annual growth rate[2] for Linux over the next 5 years - making it the
fastest-growing computer platform in China. Which is in turn, the
fastest growing computer market and thus, a dead serious threat to
Microsoft.

Against CSIA's message of Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD), here are 
the facts Microsoft don't want you to know:        

1) Yes, you can build profitable businesses around Linux, there are many
   thousands of these around the world, ranging from giants like IBM to 
   sole-proprietor micro-businesses.
 
2) Most open source developers have not 'died', as the CSIA has stated, 
   nor have they moved on to other things. Most of the developers are 
   healthy, happy and still coding on open source projects. In fact, 
   there are over a million open source developers world-wide.

3) Linux and open source software are not 'locked in lawsuits over 
   copyright infringements' any more than Microsoft's proprietary 
   software - in fact, less so. The only major instance of a lawsuit 
   against Linux, the SCO vs. IBM case, withered when SCO could produce
   not a single line of copyright infringement as evidence to the judge.

4) Software patents are not merely problems for Linux and open source,
   but for all software. While Linux developers are yet to pay a single
   dollar for patent infringement, Microsoft have paid out billions to
   Eolas, Alacritech, IBM, Gateway, Novel, Sun and others just in the
   last few years.

5) More importantly, U.S. software patents do not even apply in China,
   making this a baseless FUD tactic.       

"The key question is why would the China Software Industry Association
choose now as the time to launch a major offensive against Linux? We
suggest the fact that Microsoft recently joined this organisation offers
an answer. It is obvious that Linux's huge success in China coupled with
the likelihood of massive growth for the coming decade, are seriously
threatening vested interests," continued Zymaris.

"In simple terms, Linux and open source software are the best means by
which countries like China can avoid sending billions of dollars
overseas to pay for software licences. It's the best way for the average
Chinese citizen to afford high-quality software, legally. It's the best
way for China to reduce copyright-infringement of proprietary software,
which causes it embarrassment. It's the best approach towards fostering
an indigenous software industry. Finally, it's the only way the Chinese
government can be certain that it controls its own software destiny and
security," continued Zymaris.

"We see that once again, as in Europe and South America, areas which
have similarly seen extraordinary Linux growth, Microsoft is meddling
against the best interests of foreign countries. Our suggestion to these
countries is simple: in almost all circumstances, Microsoft's best
interests are not your best interests. Every dollar Microsoft makes is a
dollar you lose. Your best option is Linux and open source software.
Make the right decision for your country," concluded Zymaris.


References: 

[1] Anti-Linux FUD hatchet job
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/29/content_472979.htm

[2] Linux revenues to grow at 64% a year in China
http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?pid=23571113&containerId=prCN00226805

[3] Microsoft Joins China Software Industry Association
http://english1.people.com.cn/200206/17/eng20020617_97986.shtml

- - - - 
About Cybersource Pty. Ltd.

Cybersource, founded in early 1991, is the second longest running open
source solutions company in the world. We have been demonstrating the better
value, security and robustness of open source technologies to our clients
since then. We also produce products like:

* The Safe Internet Computer: The Safest Way to Use the Internet.

* The Small Business Linux Server: the best value small business server
  on the market and 75% less expensive than the Microsoft alternative. 

* Datasafe: Stores copies of all your documents. Easy and direct access 
  to all past revisions.

* Cybersource TrimClient; All the advantages of a thin-client with none 
  of the disadvantages.

http://www.cybersource.com.au/

Spokesperson/Contact: Con Zymaris
Phone: +61 3 9621 2377
Email: info@cybersource.com.au

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