Crouching Monopoly, Hidden Penguin

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To persuade the Middle Kingdom to pick its software over Linux, Microsoft plays nice

By Paul Andrews
Can there be such a thing as a kinder, gentler Microsoft? The answer may well soon emerge in China, where the software Ninja and Red Dragon are locked in a strategic duel over Windows and its free competitor, Linux.

Call it “Crouching Monopoly, Hidden Penguin,” featuring PCs and lines of code. Long at odds with China over rampant piracy but now facing Beijing mandates for “homegrown only” systems, Microsoft is using a blend of diplomacy and dollars to stave off open-source momentum in the world’s most potent emerging tech market. How well it succeeds could establish its defense against similar forays in governments and enterprises throughout the world.

Link: usnews.com