linux.com — 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, but within 24 hours three Microsoft-paid lobbyists, all wearing black suits, were pressuring members of the Senate Committee on Governmental Operations (COGO) to remove the words they didn't like...
Apr 18, 2007 View in Crawl 4
jav1231Apr 18, 2007
Like kicking puppies, Microsoft is inherently evil.
pt4117Apr 18, 2007
I 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.
fallenone05Apr 18, 2007
With great power, comes great responsibility
orbit1979Apr 18, 2007
If 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.
tackleApr 18, 2007
why?
wvdavisApr 18, 2007
@ 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.
inolesApr 18, 2007
ratz, Microsoft. I already send my an email to my legislations.
msgyrdApr 18, 2007
MS 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.
xmilkyApr 18, 2007
@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.)
kinggfxApr 19, 2007
Why does linux.com have Microsoft ads?
macewanApr 19, 2007
@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.
Closed AccountApr 19, 2007
It is linked to in the article. Click on the bill number.