CAGW Commends Microsoft-Novell Deal.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today pointed to the collaboration between Microsoft and Novell as another reason to shun government intervention in the technology sector. The companies struck a deal to improve interoperability between Microsoft Windows and Novell's Linux operating system.

Microsoft and Novell are rivals in the corporate server software business. Windows is proprietary and Novell's SuSE Linux is open source, meaning its code can freely be modified and distributed by developers.

"The deal illustrates how the free market works to meet the demands of consumers," CAGW President Tom Schatz said. "This is further evidence that governments should stay out of the software design business, and that competition protects consumers and taxpayers."

Microsoft said the move was a response to corporate customers that desired an easier mix of Microsoft and Linux technologies. The deal ensures that SuSE Linux can operate together with Windows in corporate data centers, defends Novell from patent infringement suits from Microsoft, and protects both companies' intellectual property.

"The agreement to share intellectual property stands in stark contrast to the effort by the European Commission to force Microsoft to share some of its trade secrets with competitors," Schatz continued. "The marketplace is the best venue ...