Microsoft at LinuxTag

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Hi,

as some of you probably already know, Microsoft will be having their own booth
at LinuxTag.

There has been a discussion on the LinuxTag Mailinglist
(http://mailman.linuxtag.org/pipermail/lt2k/2004-May/thread.html#668,
german), I'll try to summarize it a bit:
Although I generally think it's a more than bad idea to have MS at LinuxTag,
there is nothing we can do about it anymore.
The decision in favour of a booth for Microsoft has been made because we
*know* that what they say is wrong and because we can deal with every FUD
they may spread.
My personal feeling still is: There is no room for Microsoft at LinuxTag. They
don't fit in and they don't have the right to be there. That is because of
how they treated and still tread the community, Free Software and OpenSource
- - without any respect. They have even been insulting us personally.
It neither is a matter of freedom of speech since the LinuxTag is after all a
private and uncommercial initiative and a community project. Microsoft has no
right they could demand.
I also don't think it would have been that bad a sign to the world if LinuxTag
had disobeyed their wish to have a booth since fighting them actively at
LinuxTag will be no easier.
But it would be no good idea to draw back now and take back the acceptance.

However, we have a Microsoft booth at the LinuxTag this year and I don't want
them to spread FUD without at least *trying* to do something against it.
So I'm thinking of making flyers, posters and T-Shirts (there is one draft for
a shirt I have been thinking of for a year now -
http://lt.linuxforce.de/lt2k4.php?itemid=156 (partly german)).
But I need the free project booths to support me or even people to join in
with me.

I've been setting up some blog on my website (http://lt.linuxforce.de/ there's
no english version, atm) to start planning our actions but I think a wiki
might be much more effective so I've started content at LinuxWiki.org:
http://linuxwiki.de/LinuxTag2004_2fMicrosoftNoFUDen (english version)
http://linuxwiki.de/LinuxTag2004_2fMicrosoftNoFUD (german version)

Thanks for your attention,
Sebastian
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Received on Fri May 28 18:30:15 2004