MS talking to Tux?

Microsoft vs. Linux: Execs Talk Detente

“The often-hostile relations between Microsoft and the open-source community are thawing, and new dialogues appear to be opening between senior officials in both camps” according to this article from eWeek.

“In continuing its outreach to the most prominent members of the open-source community, Microsoft has invited Michael Tiemann, president of the Open Source Initiative and vice president of open-source affairs at Linux vendor Red Hat, to meet and start a constructive dialogue.

‘Microsoft reached out to me as president of the OSI, and they basically said they wanted to begin a productive conversation, and we agreed to take that at face value,’ Tiemann told eWEEK in an interview at the Red Hat Summit here Thursday.

While Tiemann has not yet met with anyone from Microsoft, most likely to be Brad Smith, its general counsel, they have exchanged e-mails and a meeting is likely to occur.
Asked about those in the community who still perceive Microsoft as an enemy to be avoided at all costs, Tiemann responded, ‘So, what’s the price of being wrong? There are some prices that can’t be paid and others where you say, ‘boy, that was a learning experience.’ But if you don’t try, you’ll never know.’”