How Sui is Building a Blockchain for Software Licensing at Scale

The world of software licensing has long been a centralized affair, governed by complex agreements, restrictive terms, and the constant specter of vendor audits. For years, blockchain technology has been touted as a potential solution, promising a future of immutable ownership records and transparent, automated compliance. However, the dream has often been hampered by the…

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European Cloud Providers Drag Broadcom’s VMware Deal into Court

The legal battle over Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware has entered a critical new phase, as the trade body Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) formally seeks the annulment of the European Commission’s decision to approve the deal.¹ In a detailed legal filing, CISPE has accused the EU’s top regulator of committing “a catalogue of…

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The Next Frontier of SAM: Your Next Asset Class Will Be a Robot

For decades, Software Asset Management (SAM) professionals have wrestled with an ever-expanding list of assets. From physical servers in the data center to virtual machines, cloud instances, and user-based subscriptions, the definition of a “software asset” has constantly evolved. Now, a glimpse of the next great leap is emerging, and it has two legs. The…

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West Northamptonshire Council’s Saves £1 Million on Microsoft in Post-Merger License Consolidation

In an era of tightening public sector budgets, a £1 million saving is a significant victory for taxpayers. West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has achieved just that, securing approximately $1.25 million USD in savings through a renewed and consolidated software licensing agreement with Microsoft.¹ This achievement is more than just a successful negotiation; it is a…

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How Kerala’s Schools Saved $360 Million by Swtching to Open Source

In the world of public sector IT, a savings of a few million dollars is considered a major victory. The southern Indian state of Kerala, however, has achieved something on a completely different scale. By systematically replacing proprietary software with a custom Linux-based operating system across its government schools, the state has realized an estimated…

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A New Deal for Europe: Microsoft Unveils Consumption-Based Licensing for Windows Server

Microsoft has announced a significant change to its licensing model for Windows Server in Europe, introducing a new “Cloud-Optimized” option that allows local cloud providers to offer the ubiquitous operating system on a pay-as-you-go basis.² This move, which directly addresses long-standing complaints of anti-competitive behavior, is a major concession aimed at leveling the playing field…

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A Final Reprieve: Microsoft Announces Paid Extended Security Updates for Exchange and Skype Servers

Microsoft has officially announced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a six-month window of continued security patches beyond the products’ end-of-support date. The move is a direct response to customer feedback, providing a crucial, albeit temporary, lifeline for organizations that are in the process of migrating but…

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The Price of Freedom: Confronting the Sustainability Crisis in Open Source

The modern digital world, a multi-trillion dollar economy of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and global connectivity, is built upon a foundation that is paradoxically both immensely powerful and dangerously fragile. This foundation is free and open-source software (FOSS), a vast ecosystem of tools and components often maintained by a handful of volunteers. For decades, the…

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Oracle’s Database@AWS Launch Signals Multicloud Pivot While Preserving License Revenue Streams

Oracle’s recent launch of Database@AWS represents a fundamental strategic shift that simultaneously embraces multicloud flexibility while ingeniously preserving the company’s lucrative perpetual licensing model. The general availability announcement, coupled with aggressive Bring Your Own License (BYOL) incentives offering 76% cost savings, reveals a sophisticated approach to maintaining market relevance in an increasingly cloud-native world while…

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VMware Extended Support Lifecycles Signal Strategic Retreat Amid Customer Backlash

In a significant strategic pivot that reflects mounting enterprise resistance to Broadcom’s aggressive licensing overhaul, VMware has fundamentally altered its product development approach by extending release cycles from two to three years while simultaneously expanding support lifecycles. The changes, announced alongside the general availability of VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0, represent what industry analysts characterize as…

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Microsoft’s Concessions to European Cloud Providers: A Stalling Tactic or a Step to Fair Competition?

A recent agreement between Microsoft and Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) has brought a new chapter to the long-running saga of antitrust scrutiny faced by the software giant in the region.[2] After a formal complaint was filed in November 2022, Microsoft has offered a series of concessions aimed at appeasing European cloud providers…

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Oracle Java Audits Surge: 73% of Users Targeted as Licensing Changes Drive Mass Migration to Open Source

A startling new survey has revealed the extent of Oracle’s aggressive audit campaign targeting Java users, with nearly three out of four organizations reporting they have been audited within the past three years. The findings, which paint a picture of an industry under siege from escalating compliance costs and licensing complexity, are driving an unprecedented…

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VMware Reboots Partner Program Again: Smaller Cloud Providers Face Uncertain Future

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the virtualization industry, VMware has announced the second major overhaul of its partner program in just 18 months, effectively ending the current channel program and transitioning to a new invitation-only model that will exclude many smaller cloud service providers. The announcement, which came with little advance warning,…

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The Hire and License Out (HALO) Effect

Since AI became mainstream, a new type of transaction has emerged that is fundamentally changing how tech giants acquire talent and technology. These deals, dubbed “HALO” transactions, an acronym for “Hire and License Out”, represent a novel approach to talent acquisition that shares characteristics of both traditional hiring and corporate acquisitions, yet isn’t quite either[1].…

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Telefónica Germany Ditches Broadcom, Opts for Third-Party VMware Support

In a move that sends a clear signal to the rest of the industry, Telefónica Germany, one of the country’s largest telecommunications providers, has dropped direct VMware support from Broadcom.² The company has instead signed a multi-year deal with third-party support specialist Support Revolution.¹ This decision reflects the growing dissatisfaction among large enterprise customers following…

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Rimini Street and Oracle Reach Historic Settlement, Ending 15-Year Legal Battle

After more than a decade and a half of contentious litigation, enterprise software support company Rimini Street, Inc. (NASDAQ: RMNI) and technology giant Oracle Corporation have reached a confidential settlement agreement that may finally bring closure to one of the software industry’s most protracted legal disputes. The settlement, announced on July 7, 2025, resolves the…

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A New Deal for DC: GSA and Oracle Ink Landmark “Whole-of-Government” Agreement

The US General Services Administration (GSA) has brokered a landmark, five-year “whole-of-government” agreement with Oracle, fundamentally changing how the federal government buys the tech giant’s products and services.¹ This first-of-its-kind deal for Oracle establishes a single, comprehensive procurement vehicle that consolidates the immense buying power of the entire US government. It aims to simplify purchasing,…

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