MS makes conciliatory noises
In the software world there are two camps: the free and open source (Foss) movement, where the guts of the software are available for anyone to look at and modify; and the proprietary software movement, where access to a program is strictly controlled and only the company that created the software can make changes.
The Foss movement is championed by the Linux operating system while Microsoft is typically cast as the champion of the proprietary software movement.
Government has been making moves to get more of its departments to use Foss software.
However, Microsoft's Ashley de Klerk says that cutting the proprietary software vendors out of the loop completely wouldn't only hurt SA companies selling services and support for those products but would also reduce the level of competitiveness in tendering processes.
Microsoft's relationship with the Foss community could best be described as antagonistic – especially considering Microsoft's recent comments that the Linux operating system infringes on 295 of its patents.
With SA's Government making noisesabout going the Foss route, it seems Microsoft is anxious to protect its partners and its SA business by playing nicely with its competitors.
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