FUD(英語:Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt,意思為懼、惑、疑)最早指IBM销售人员對客戶灌輸阿姆達爾公司和其他競爭對手產品的負面觀念,在顾客的头脑中注入疑惑与惧怕,使顧客誤以為除了該公司的產品外,他們別無其他選擇。
最早出自吉恩·阿姆達爾之口,吉恩·阿姆達爾原為IBM工程師,之後離開IBM自行創立阿姆達爾公司,成為IBM競爭對手。
这种行销手法现在经常用于电脑业界,特別是微软常向客戶宣稱Linux與其他開放原始碼的軟體對客戶有弊無利。[1][2][3]
[…] Microsoft will pay to Caldera, by wire transfer in accordance with written instructions provided by Caldera, the amount of two hundred eighty million dollars ($280,000,000), as full settlement of all claims or potential claims covered by this agreement […](NB. This document of the Caldera v. Microsoft case was an exhibit in the later Comes v. Microsoft case.)
[…] Microsoft paid $280 million to Caldera to settle the case […]