Whether due to Microsoft pressure or not, @Stake made a grave mistake by apparently firing one of its leading security experts following his decision to take part in a study that found monopolies hazardous to good security. @Stake and Microsoft have engaged in various collaborations as of late, including a study performed by the Cambridge security firm that found .Net to be more secure than WebSphere. But the new study that criticized the insecurity inherent in monopolistic monocultures seems to have spooked the @Stake management. Microsoft, by the way, denies it had any role in @Stake's decision.