Linspire slams Microsoft 'bully'

The chief executive of open source operating system vendor Linspire has vowed to fight any future attempts by Microsoft to hold back Linux.

Speaking to vnunet.com at the launch of the UK version of Linspire 5, Michael Robertson explained that during the three-year court case his company suffered repeated attempts by Microsoft to make life difficult.

He even claimed that the Redmond giant had gone so far as getting Linspire staff thrown out of a Japanese hotel.

"It would be foolish to think that Microsoft doesn't want us out of business. I would if I was Microsoft," said Robertson.

"But it's like the bully down the street when you're a kid; if you stand up to them they'll move on to someone else."

Robertson claimed that, as well as engaging Linspire with multiple lawsuits around the world, and discouraging OEM distribution deals, Microsoft had less orthodox tactics.

"In Japan they got us kicked out of our hotel," he said. "The management were told that we had a big case against Microsoft and, being risk-averse, they asked us to move on."

Microsoft was also making it hard for new entrants to the market such as Linspire to make deals with OEMs to preinstall software on PCs, according to Robertson. He explained that, because PC building is such a low-margin business, OEMs are scared of losing any Microsoft revenue.

Robertson added that Microsoft had been "rattling the patent sabre" as a warning to Linspire, and that some patents could be used to stifle competition.

But the court battle with Microsoft did have good results as well. "It's a sweet irony that the $20m we got from Microsoft has funded the release [of Linspire 5]," said Robertson. "100 per cent of the focus needs to be on taking Microsoft's business."