Novell & Microsoft

Red Hat is putting a positive spin on a deal between Novell and Microsoft that may threaten the company's position as the leading supplier of Linux.
In a question-and-answer response on its Web site to the co-marketing, technology and indemnification alliance announced Thursday between Novell and Microsoft, Red Hat said that the deal "means Linux has won."

"It was inevitable. The best technology has been acknowledged," Red Hat said in its statement. "The relentless march of open source is shaking up the industry by freeing customers from proprietary lock-in and lack of choice."