jbz
@jbz@indieweb.social  ·  activity timestamp last month

🤬 Microsoft bans LibreOffice developer's account without warning, rejects appeal • Neowin

｢ Recently, we reported on LibreOffice, accusing Microsoft of intentionally using complex file formats as a tactic to lock in users to Microsoft Office, hindering open source alternatives like LibreOffice.

Now, Microsoft has banned LibreOffice developer, Mike Kaganski, from using its services, citing an "activity that violates [its] Services Agreement" ｣

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-bans-libreoffice-developers-account-without-warning-rejects-appeal/

#libreoffice#ms
Klaus Frank
@agowa338@chaos.social replied  ·  activity timestamp 4 weeks ago
@jbz
Hey @EUCommission is this now finally enough for you to stop trying to please the US? They declared a policy war against us long ago, they're trying to get control over all of our technology and data and suppress and extinguish any and all (potential) competition or opposition.

It's time to cut ties with the US. This isn't a fair (or free market) interaction. This is extortion and oppression.

This is structural and not a one off thing:
https://indieweb.social/@jbz/114941364334901380
Cambionn
@Cambion@mastodon.nl replied  ·  activity timestamp last month
@jbz Microsoft had issues with banning people randomly without proper way to appeal for years. And while that's ridiculous (and at least in the EU, illegal), I don't see anything in Mike's original blog (found here: https://mikekaganski.wordpress.com/2025/07/25/microsoft-anybody-home) indicating that it has to do with him being a LibreOffice developer.

So while it's bad, I would be a bit cautious claiming it's because of that. It could be, but it could also very well be coincidental (as it has happened to others who are unrelated before).
Kevin Karhan :verified:
@kkarhan@infosec.space replied  ·  activity timestamp last month
@jbz I hope @EUCommission and others take note of this #AntiCompetitive action and will act accordingly unless #Microsoft can actually cite a valid reason.

#Microsoft pulling such an #AssholeMove is inexcuseable *unless they actually evidence a serious #ToS violation they could not have resolved otherwise and that banning said user was the only possible recourse to secure their own systems and/or customers' data from a malicious actor.
Nazo
@nazokiyoubinbou@urusai.social replied  ·  activity timestamp last month
@jbz As a side note on the contacts thing, I ran into this problem many years ago now. It hasn't changed in all this time. I had a Microsoft account mostly for Minecraft (though I also had Sea of Thieves which I guess I can't play anymore. I don't know anyone for multiplayer though and Salt 2 is satisfying that need for single player.) I logged into my Microsoft account in Minecraft on my Switch just to see if there were any free skins or anything and they banned me. It claimed something about "inappropriate activities" (like cheating or something? All I did was log in. I didn't cheat or play online...) I ran into this issue back then. You can't contact support. Period. And if you don't have a phone number to give them in the first place, you can't even get that far...
Nazo
@nazokiyoubinbou@urusai.social replied  ·  activity timestamp last month
@jbz I don't think the user agreement actually says "you can't produce a competing product."

Though no doubt they want it to, I'd be willing to bet there's grounds for a lawsuit if anyone actually had the resources to actually do one. (Yeah, I know. MS has big lawyers.)

That said, it's a good time for people to start moving off of any Microsoft services anyway... (Really we shouldn't be using Github. That needs to go too.)
Petra van Cronenburg
@NatureMC@mastodon.online replied  ·  activity timestamp last month
@jbz What I don't understand (I'm IT dummie): Thunderbird is an open system connected to Mozilla, not Microsoft, yes?
Why should the developer of @libreoffice use a Microsoft account for a mailing list??? The screenshot shows a hotmail address (owner: Microsoft). But there are so many independent alternatives for mail services! Why did he choose Microsoft?