Ballmer: Open Source is Not Trustworthy

“Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer effectively closed the door on any Microsoft involvement in open-source initiatives, saying that the commercial approach to software development and sales provides the best security and value to enterprise customers.

In addition, Ballmer branded open source as often a channel of last resort for software products that failed in the commercial marketplace. While distancing Microsoft from the open-source world, he half-jokingly replied ‘never say never’ when asked if the software giant would support Linux if the market were large enough.

Ballmer, known for his frank, no-holds-barred style, fielded questions about competition from open source software and other topics at this week’s Gartner’s Symposium/ITxpo 2003 conference in Orlando, Florida….

In the end, there’s no one to be held accountable for flawed software in an open-source model, Ballmer continued. ‘There’s no roadmap for Linux. There’s nobody to hold accountable for security issues with Linux. We think it is an advantage that a commercial company can bring. We stand behind the products. We indemnify for the intellectual property that’s in the product. We provide that product with a roadmap. If there are problems and people do have security issues, I’m SteveB@microsoft.com. They know where to send e-mail and give somebody a hard time about it.‘ “

He said it, not me… ;-)