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.

Few sites about free software attract more controversy than Boycott Novell. Founded in 2006 in response to the first Microsoft-Novell deal, as its name suggests, the site has evolved more recently into a site for commentary and investigation of any subject that might be a threat to free software.

The site claims to be "Exploring the reality behind exclusionary deals with Microsoft and their subtle (yet severe) implications".

The keyword is "Reality". Unfortunately, there is not a lot of reality or even any facts behind Boycott Novell's articles, which seem to come several times daily. Let me explain:

FSF India condemns the attack on free software activists who were criticizing Novell in a nonviolent and legitimate way.

Two of the FSF India board members, Dr V. Sasikumar and Mr M. Arun, joined other free software activists to protest against man-handling of peaceful free software campaigners. This protest was also stopped by authorities in an authoritarian and undemocratic manner.

"Not since SCO has there been a company so reviled by the open source community as Novell following its deal with Microsoft.

Ordinarily I would be as thrilled as any other blogger to be linked to from far and wide across the web, but what Boycott Novell is linking to here has little if anything to do with their stated mandate.

Response to people who mischaracterise Boycott Novell and falsely attribute false words to it

Foes of Boycott Novell go down low and make up dirt in order to paint the Web site in a negative light

Known critic of Boycott Novell tries to justify choice of SUSE; GNU India responds to Boycott Novell protest