When the idea of sharing software comes up, people frequently break out in debates over Capitalism vs. Communism. It doesn't take long before someone starts equating - derisively, no less - sharing software with Communism. But since when did the Communists corner the market on sharing?

How Microsoft uses ActiveSync to shut out Free software with software patents; OOXML patents and other issues revisited; Bilski to be revisited by the Supremes, who can axe software patents in the United States

No, really. As trollish and dumb as they may seem, you still get such reactions. And the problem is that they may damage Free Software more now than ten years ago, when almost nobody knew what Free Software is anyway, so here are a few recent facts.

OpenSUSE cannot really be redistributed, so this discussion is back on the table

Another look at a bad EU deal; software patents revisited; Microsoft's copyright violations remembered

Microsoft’s smear campaign against OpenDocument Format continues. It’s not only a Vice President from Novell who participates in this. It’s also comes from the usual suspects.

Microsoft fails to slow Google down; Google harms Microsoft's profits; Windows-only Microsoft Web rationalises temporary support of Google

Siim Kallas' latest smear of Free software invites several factual responses; Jason Hiner’s new attack on GNU/Linux put in perspective

Novell's role in Microsoft PR revisited, along with forgotten offences. OSBC 2009 had ended a short while ago and it was probably a little harsh to focus only on Microsoft's presence over there. Nonetheless, this is part of a pattern and it's clearly damaging to GNU/Linux and Free software.