What is Digg?69 Comments
- trollzor, on 10/12/2007, -6/+79http://digg.com/linux_unix/Newly_leaked_Antitrust_Memo_Bill_Gates_on_Making_ACPI_Not_Work_with_Linux
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Antitrust_Memo_Bill_Gates_Targets_Free_Office_Suite_Using_Patent_Game
See a pattern here? Why isn't the United States taking anti-trust action against Microsoft? Oh wait...
"The decision by the Bush administration to vacate the lawsuit that was first initiated in 1998 by the Clinton Justice Department is considered a major victory for Microsoft, which nearly tripled its campaign contributions and more than doubled its lobbying expenditures during its fight against the antitrust case."
http://www.opensecrets.org/alerts/v6/alertv6_26.asp
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/indusclient.asp?code=B12&year=2006&sort=A - shrewduser, on 10/12/2007, -5/+69can anyone say "corruption"?
- shrewduser, on 10/12/2007, -5/+53"A legislative staff employee who would lose his job if he were quoted here by name said, "By the time those lobbyists were done talking, it sounded like ODF (Open Document Format, the free and open format used by OpenOffice.org and other free software) was proprietary and the Microsoft format was the open and free one."
Two other legislative employees (who must also remain anonymous) told Linux.com that the Microsoft lobbyists implied that elected representatives who voted against Microsoft's interests might have a little more trouble raising campaign funds than they would if they helped the IT giant achieve its Florida goals. " - yaro83, on 10/12/2007, -4/+42@jesusfreak:
You've got it all backwards: Microsoft does have a choice. They can adopt ODF themselves and compete on value and quality. Open source software vendors, on the other hand, CANNOT adopt microsoft standards as their own, because they are... what's the word... proprietary. - schestowitz, on 10/12/2007, -8/+33I also spotted the following last week (Florida as well).
Open Standards for Florida vs Microsoft lobbyists
,----[ Quote ]
| Bottom line: Rep. Ed Homan (R-Tampa) tried to get a small paragraph
| added to a general IT bill in the State Senate that mildly favored
| open standards (i.e. ODF etc.) in state IT operations. It was a
| quiet effort, he told me, but still, within 24 hours all the
| State Senators on the appropriate committee had been contacted
| by lobbyists representing Microsoft, who also paid him a visit.
`----
http://www.openaddict.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=667
The state of California is no exception. They have shills (paid-for lobbyings) all over the place, even here in the UK. Here are some links to support what I claim.
Microsoft asking people to write leters opposing California A.B. 1668 - Open
Document Format
http://www.groklaw.net/comment.php?mode=display&sid=20070406122736199&title=Microsoft+asking+people+to+write+leters+opposing+California+A.B.+1668+-+Open+Document+Format%2C&type=article&order=&hideanonymous=0&pid=555070#c555168
http://tinyurl.com/2gfrz6
Microsoft criticized for Open XML petition
,----[ Quote ]
| The petition is an attempt to make it appear that Open XML
| has "pseudo-grassroots" support, argues Mark Taylor, the
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| founder of the Open Source Consortium.
`----
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6173625.html - gquaglia, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24I'm sure MS has paid shills here too.
- feckineejit, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23why is lobbying even legal? it's bribery with a different name.
- wvdavis, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19You know everyone is screaming about Microsoft's lobby effort here. What should be applauded are Rep. Ed Homan's efforts to attempt to get this voted on in the first place. I believe that if you live in Florida (I do) you should contact Rep. Homan, and thank him for his efforts. Then contact your local representative and encourage them to support this effort (I will).
- dot19408, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18Problem #1 - the people elected to office view that as their career, not as a civic duty.
Problem #2 - Because of #1 they worry about getting re-elected instead of doing what's right.
Problem #3 - 90% have the technical knowledge of a chimp.
Some guys come in and start talking about document standards and technical mumbo-jumbo the politician doesn’t understand, then they mention their possible campaign donations…
They’ve never heard of or from the people supporting the ODF, but they know Microsoft and they know how much $$$ they spread around.
What’s an elected official to do? - zjmx, on 10/12/2007, -5/+16Stop this from happening in California.
There's an Open Source bill currently pending in California where Digg recently discussed Microsoft's tactics against this bill[1].
What didn't come up in that thread is that the CA assembly has a web feedback form [2] for this bill -which is quite a bit easier (though less effective) than writing a physical letter. You can find the link below.
If you care about F/OSS in CA, please take a moment to read the bill (can be found in the earlier digg discussion linked to below) and fill out that feedback form.
[1] http://digg.com/microsoft/MSFT_asking_you_to_write_leters_opposing_California_A_B_1668_Open_Document
[2] http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/legcomment/legcomment.asp?bill_number=ab_1668&author=leno - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+15microsoft: digging our karmic grave one shovelful every day.
- ryannerd, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12In the movies MIB are the good guys. These lobbyists sound more like the evil agents from the Matrix:
"You hear that Mr. Homan?... That is the sound of inevitability... It is the sound of your death... Goodbye, Mr. Homan..." - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Adobe = little guy? LOL
- snotrokit, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12two problems here. Microsoft and Politicians. The practice of lobbyists should be criminalized, but then again the very people that are grossly profiting from the lobbyists are the ones that make the laws.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I suggest you read the latest version of the bill, especially the definition of "standards".
- msgyrd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7MS threatened to open XPS which in turn made Adobe open PDFs. See how that works? Competition improves things for end users (provided they are actually competing, and not working together to price fix). MS has no real competition with their Office platform besides OpenOffice.org, and OO.o doesn't have the financial capabilities to bribe the US Government like Microsoft can.
Standard practice for large companies or not, either way it's sleazy business practice. - formatreinstall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5OMG that's funny - I am sitting here in training class at an MS outsourcer learning how to support Office 2007. The test we just wrote mentioned the file format. The training material says:
DOCX:
"Provides an open standard..."
"This change is in response to customer and industry demand"
I am weeping with laughter and sadness :) - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8"right of people", not corporations.
- kaiser44, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Some of you may not remember , but B.Gates was being investigated.e. Microsoft on a load of charges concerning his company.
I think he even made statements to the effect that the government should stay out of his business, after that the rhetoric went back and fourth and he had to appear before a congressional committee.
He then at that point was told that he should come to Washington and see how Washington works,
he was advised it would be in his and his companies best interest to start to understand that if the government does not get a cut , he would not be able to do business as usual because he did not have so called friends their to look out for his
interests.
Bing the smart guy he is he quickly learned how to play the game. - pt4117, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9I don't get how we are jumping on MS for lobbying. Someone from some open source group probably lobbied too (that's probably how it got attached to the bill). Just because we don't agree with them doesn't mean they don't have the right to speak, or even tell the Congressmen that they won't support them.
What we should be appalled by are the Congressmen that give in to this. If a Congressman believes in something, and gets swayed, by the thought of not getting some contributions next year, they don't deserve to serve the people. - Stonekeeper, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Just boycot their products. It's not that hard...
- bradleyland, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Ed Homan's Florida House homepage:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4275&SessionId=54
List of all house representatives:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx
Find your Florida Senate representative:
http://www.flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Mode=Find%20Your%20Legislators&Submenu=3&Tab=legislators&CFID=35380032&CFTOKEN=86621407
It should also be noted that you have *far* more influence at a local level. What does your local government use? Are they still paying for MS Office down at City Hall? This is the perfect opportunity to put the open source bug in their ear. Head down to your next city council and county commissioner's meeting and bring enough copies of this article for everyone to see. Explain your displeasure.
One of the easiest ways to explain to friends and family why it sucks that your goverment uses Microsoft Word is to print out a copy of what Microsoft Word costs at your local office supply store and show it to them. Explain that, "If you ever wanted to open or edit a document from your local, state, or federal government, you'd have ot spend $200-plus to get the job done. Does that seem right to you? Doesn't it seem that an open standard would be more suitable for government?"
Microsoft Word from Staples - $229
http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?prodCatType=1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=164730&cmArea=SEARCH - gquaglia, on 10/12/2007, -7/+11The scum bags at MS have struck again. I wonder how much money was promised to the pols to remove the offending section of the legislation.
- jedikv, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@kevin45
i agree, its retarded that people (blind MS-haters) suddenly treat any competitor to MS as "the little guy". They are big faceless corporations just like MS - klawz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Probably far less than the RIAA and MPAA has paid to get copyright infringement laws warped into their own screwed-up reality.
- Yubimusubi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@pt4117
"Someone from some open source group probably lobbied too (that's probably how it got attached to the bill)."
Umm... The article clearly states that Rep Ed Homan, with the help of his son, Doug, wrote the language into the bill. Neither is a member of an Open Source group. The article _does_ state, however, that members of various Linux User Groups contacted congressmen after the language was added. - Binarydemon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I love how everybody is bashing MS and no one is holding the Florida Senate Commitee members accountable. Personally I'm trying to decide which I find more sickening myself - a large corporation using large amounts of cash to protect their interests OR politicians folding like an umbrella when a few extra dollars is thrown their way.
- Cardiakke, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Amendement 1 of the Bill of Rights and Amendements to the Constitution of the United States of America
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances" - saska, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@wvdavis:
"What should be applauded are Rep. Ed Homan's efforts to attempt to get this voted on in the first place."
Huh? TFA says that Homan tried to "sneak it in" without having it be noticed or discussed until after the first vote. That's not an attempt to get it voted on. It's stealth legislation.
If states want to advocate open source or open standards, and if the critical mass in their voting population and legislature is sufficient to support it, they should do what their constituency supports. If F/OSS advocates think that the legislature needs to be educated, they can certainly work to provide that education.
But "sneaking last minute language into a bill before a vote" isn't admirable, no matter who does it or for what purpose. - motters, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Just another skirmish in the battle for open formats, which would allow free and fair competition between software vendors. Ultimately in the long term I don't believe that this is a battle which Microsoft can win.
- wvdavis, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@ saska – His tactics were not admirable however, considering all of the pork barrel amendments and other BS that is snuck on to legislation, and if his actions raise the awareness of the people (674 diggs at this time), I certainly applaud his efforts. I have contacted his office to thank him and to encourage him not to give up on this issue. I have also contacted my local representative (both by phone & by e-mail) to discuss this issue and to “provide that education”. Most of the other amendments that get tagged on to legislation cost the tax payers thousands; this one has the potential to save them/us thousands.
- harlowsmonkeys, on 10/12/2007, -7/+9Why is everyone overlooking this part: "It was just a bit of text advocating open data formats THAT WAS SLIPPED into a Florida State Senate bill AT THE LAST MINUTE with no fanfare..." (emphasis added)?
Good for Microsoft. Nothing should be slipped into bills at the last minute. It is that kind of thing that is responsible for most of the bad laws we have. - KoZo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3seen this comment in /.
Here comes the Men in Black
Monopoly defenders
Here comes the Men in Black
Cash your party members - macewan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@gcnaddict, this microsoft format sounds interesting. could you point me in the direction of a download? i'd like to test it on Edgy and/or my Nokia 770.
- xmilky, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@timdigg, @msgyrd: Adobe PDF has been an openly documented standard format all along its existence. While submission to ISO and AIIM now allows modification by other interested parties, this standardization effort is only for decorative purposes. Of course, XPS has probably provoked that move - but PDF hasn't exactly been a closed proprietary format before. (It's an extremely well documented beast, and quite extensible.)
- TimDigg, on 10/12/2007, -6/+7Jstrike
you realize that was business move by MS right?
threatening to open XPS...forced Adobe to open PDF - jpop, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"Breaking News" - Microsoft works to protect it's own interests. Yawn...
- tackle, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4why?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It is linked to in the article. Click on the bill number.
- iNoles, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2ratz, Microsoft. I already send my an email to my legislations.
- pglowiak, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4This may be OT, but speaking of proprietary, did you see where Microsoft is releasing a software package that directly competes with Adobe Flash?
I guess they have no problem going after the little guys. I think the anti-trust lawsuit and the investigation should be reinstated. As far as the Florida lobbying, don't they send people to jail for extortion? - rouslan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I've heard enough bad stuff about Microsoft. I am going to completely switch to Ubuntu, once I learn all of these Unix commands.
- kinggfx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Why does linux.com have Microsoft ads?
- specialK16, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1A corporation is still a "juristic person"....
at least in CR. - udahlen, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5Buy a Mac next time. Or try Linux. Avoid Windows. It's that simple.
- scabbers, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5Florida, the pinnacle of western democracy.
- wvdavis, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1link?
- tech42er, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1http://linux.org.mt/article/terminal
- orbit1979, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2If Open Source wants to play, they have to pay. I do not agree with this situation, but it is the reality. If you want anything done in government, the only effective means of achieving your goals is to write a bigger check to your local politicians than your opponents.
- fallenone05, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1With great power, comes great responsibility
-
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