Editing Steve Ballmer (section)

===Free and open source software===
{{Main|Microsoft and open source}}
In July 2000, Ballmer called the [[free software]] [[Linux kernel]] "[[communism]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/07/31/ms_ballmer_linux_is_communism/|title=MS' Ballmer: Linux is communism|website=[[The Register]]|access-date=December 29, 2017|archive-date=December 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204002525/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/07/31/ms_ballmer_linux_is_communism/|url-status=live}}</ref> and further claimed that it infringed with Microsoft's intellectual property.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ballmer-linux-infringes-our-intellectual-property/|title=Ballmer: Linux "Infringes our intellectual property" – ZDNet|first=Adrian|last=Kingsley-Hughes|website=[[ZDNet]]|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614035624/https://www.zdnet.com/article/ballmer-linux-infringes-our-intellectual-property/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2001 he called Linux a "cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches".<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011211130654/http://www.suntimes.com/output/tech/cst-fin-micro01.html |date=December 11, 2001 |title=Microsoft CEO takes launch break with the Sun-Times }}, ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', June 1, 2001; archived from the [http://www.suntimes.com/output/tech/cst-fin-micro01.html original] on December 11, 2001; retrieved December 18, 2009.</ref> Ballmer used the notion of [[viral license|"viral" licensing terms]] to express his concern over the fact that the [[GNU General Public License]] (GPL) employed by such software requires that all derivative software be under the GPL or a compatible license. In April 2003 he even interrupted his skiing holiday in [[Switzerland]] to personally plead with the mayor of [[Munich]] not to switch to Linux.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/munich-breaks-with-windows-for-linux/|title=Munich breaks with Windows for Linux|newspaper=CNET|access-date=November 23, 2016|archive-date=November 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122223459/https://www.cnet.com/news/munich-breaks-with-windows-for-linux/|url-status=live}}</ref> But he did not succeed with this and Munich switched to [[LiMux]], despite his offering a 35% discount at his [[lobbying|lobbying visit]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2003-07-13-microsoft-linux-munich_x.htm|title=Linux took on Microsoft, and won big in Munich|newspaper=USAtoday|access-date=November 28, 2016|archive-date=February 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223170254/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2003-07-13-microsoft-linux-munich_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2016, Ballmer changed his stance on Linux, saying that he supports his successor [[Satya Nadella]]'s [[Open-source model|open source]] commitments. He maintained that his comments in 2001 were right at the time but that times have changed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.informationweek.com/software/ballmer-linux-no-longer-a-cancer--/d/d-id/1324661|title=Ballmer: Linux No Longer A Cancer – InformationWeek|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003426/https://www.informationweek.com/software/ballmer-linux-no-longer-a-cancer--/d/d-id/1324661|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.silicon.co.uk/software/open-source/steve-ballmer-linux-microsoft-187802?inf_by=5a088e9d671db8d83d8b4959|title=Steve Ballmer: Linux Is No Longer 'A Cancer'|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003828/http://www.silicon.co.uk/software/open-source/steve-ballmer-linux-microsoft-187802?inf_by=5a088e9d671db8d83d8b4959|url-status=live}}</ref>