A few days ago Linspire Linux which gained some of my respect recently by re-modeling the operating systeem using ubuntu as its core, signed a deal with microsoft. :(. The deal should allow more interoperability of open office documents between microsoft word and a linspire system. They also lincensed Microsofts RT codec which they hope to use with Pidgin IM to make it interoperable with Windows Live Messenger.

Linspire also agreed to include Windows Media Player 10 in its up comming releases and to make windows live search itss default search engine :s Why..

Now the agreement signed between linxpire and microsoft is from the standpoint of patent agreements and nothing more however Mark Shuttle worth of canonical (ubuntu) see’s more than the surface of the contract.

I don’t believe that the intent of the current round of agreements is supportive of free software, and in fact I don’t think it’s particularly in Microsoft’s interests to pursue this agenda either

Does he therefore think there’s a hidden Microsoft agenda behind this agreement.