In a rather interesting turn of events Microsoft is pressing legal charges against a Brazilian magazine. This is the first time I can ever remember a tech company pressing charges against a magazine, but hey this year has been full of surprises. Apparently the magazine has upset the software giant by making "aggressive declarations lacking any kind of technical foundation about the use of the software developed by Microsoft."
Microsoft Brazil has initiated legal proceedings against a magazine and a senior government official, claiming the company has been defamed. In a 7 June filing to the Criminal Court of Sao Paulo, Microsoft said that "Sergio Amadeu, President of the National Institute of Information Technology (ITI), aiming at disseminating free software among Ministries, State owned companies and governmental bodies, made aggressive declarations lacking any kind of technical foundation about the use of the software developed by Microsoft."
The filing continues: "In defending free software, Mr. Amadeu does not abstain from criticizing Microsoft, accusing the company of a 'drug-dealer practice' for offering the operational system Windows to some governments and city administration for digital inclusion programs. "To Amadeu, this will be a decisive year to win the 'strategy of fear, uncertainty and doubt,' as he classifies the business model of Microsoft. "These declarations made by Mr. President of the ITI, beyond being absurd and criminal, extrapolate prohibitions and violate duties inherent to the public office the Defendant exercises."
News source: NewsForge
