[ Thanks to Matt for
this link. ]
“Microsoft said it plans to offer smaller companies a more
lenient licensing plan intended to stem defections to Linux or
other open-source software.“The software giant on Tuesday said it will launch the new plan,
called Open Value, early next year. The new program is part of
Microsoft’s controversial Licensing 6 volume licensing program,
which was put in place this summer.“Many Microsoft customers–particularly smaller companies–have
resisted Licensing 6 and its ‘Software Assurance’ program for
buying software under two- or three-year maintenance contracts. Up
to two-thirds of Microsoft customers either rejected the plan or
bought partial upgrades under the older Licensing 5 program,
analysts say…”