Microsoft Bullies Open Source Projects: is the Blockchain Their Next Target?
Microsoft has launched another anti-open source software campaign in the last few weeks, targeting prominent Linux and free software companies. They’re attempting to limit open-source development with buy-outs, patent trolling, and charging royalties for products that use Linux. Their recent efforts have them grabbing up patents for open source technology including software developed by Canonical, publishers of the most popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu. Microsoft’s History of Open Source Attacks. This isn’t the first time Microsoft has used this methodology to try and hamper innovation....
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Tech giant Microsoft has partnered with startups Blockstack Labs and ConsenSys to build an open-source identity platform aimed at integrating the bitcoin and Ethereum blockchains. The project seeks to build a platform for cross-blockchain identity across multiple distributed systems. An early version of the identity solution is expected to be available by the end of this summer. In a blog post published today, Microsoft global business strategist York Rhodes wrote that in the coming weeks Microsoft will launch an open source framework on Azure, where developers can build their own identity....
Embrace, Extend, Extinguish. Sounds like the slogan from an evil comic-book organization like Hydra, or the League of Shadows. In reality, it’s the oft-cited business mantra of Microsoft, with regards to how they handle emerging competitors and open source technologies. You’ll find it parroted most in the open source community, particularly when Microsoft pulls stunts like their recent “partnering” with canonical to implement an Ubuntu-like Posix environment in Windows Ten. The phrase originates from the DOJ’s findings during the United States v. Microsoft Corp. antitrust case in 2003, as....
Microsoft has announced that it is collaborating with Blockstack Labs, ConsenSys and developers across the globe on an open source, self-sovereign, blockchain-based identity system that allows people, products, apps and services to interoperate across blockchains, cloud providers and organizations. The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals include giving everyone a legal identity by 2030. As a first step, the U.N. wants to develop scalable identity systems by 2020. The inaugural "ID2020 Summit ‒ Harnessing Digital Identity for the Global Community," held at the United....
ConsenSys, Microsoft, and Blockstack Labs collaborate to create an open-source, self-sovereign, blockchain-based identity system while ex-trader starts a non-profit ID2020 to address the problem at UN-level, through public-private partnership. According to the United Nations, there are around 1.5bn people across the world who have no way of proving who they are. Sam Cassatt, chief strategy officer of ConsenSys, says: “This project represents meaningful progress towards accessible, powerful identity for our world. If successful, we will enfranchise a significant portion of the global....
Microsoft has announced the latest update to its forthcoming blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) offering for its cloud-based Azure platform. In a blog post, US financial services strategy director Marley Gray indicated four new partners have joined the project, including bitcoin payment processor BitPay; blockchain rewards platform Manifold Technology; bitcoin tax service LibraTax; and proof-of-ownership blockchain service Emercoin. With more than $32m in venture capital raised, BitPay is the best-funded startup to join the Azure blockchain offering, with the majority of those involved being....