Microsoft Now Ropes In Xandros

Microsoft has continued its effort to collaborate with open source companies. It now has a technical and legal collaboration with Xandros, a Debian based distribution. This sounds very similar to the Novell deal which contained issues about infringing on Microsoft’s intellectual rights and interoperability between ODF and Open XML.

Microsoft is sure causing a ruffle the open source space. One by managing to convincing two popular Linux distributions about the whole patent scare. And secondly it has managed to lobby successfully in some US states against ODF adoption (via Slashdot). Whether it is through the power of money or as the big brother or genuine merit, Microsoft seems to be more interfering than collaborating with open source more than ever. I think the best way out is to depend purely on the merit rather than politicians, lobbying or corporate deals to figure this out. If nothing, these things will create a doubt for someone-about-to-try-open-source.