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Requiring Software Freedom

Posted by timothy on from the freedom-and-compulsion dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes: "CNET is carrying a story about the increasing momentum that Open Source software and 'Software Libre' are gaining in Latin and South America and Europe. A certain company from Redmond WA USA is mentioned several times in the article as the impetus to free foreign governments from certain onerous licensing agreements (not to mention the cost savings involved). It is interesting that some of these governmental entities are actually requiring the use of Software Libre, not just encouraging it. Maybe it's time to visit Rio?"

4 of 356 comments (clear)

  1. April Fool's day? by rkent · · Score: 4, Funny
    Waitaminnit -- The operating system we all know and love is gaining a following in South America, with the ensuing increase in demand for programmers familiar with that OS (us!) in beautiful, inexpensive beach locations with scantily clad people everywhere?

    No way. It must be april fool's day.

    Whoo hoo!

  2. A natural course of action by GreyPoopon · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Based on the somewhat limited success (so far) of the DOJ's case against Microsoft, this is a pretty predictable happening. Maybe other countries in the world are doing this for different reasons, but I can't help but think they've factored the prospect of Microsoft getting more out of control than now and inestimable licensing costs. Unless the leverage Microsoft uses from its monopoly on desktop Operating Systems is somehow broken, many countries will have no choice but to go this route.


    I wonder what true effects this will have on the quality and quantity of free software.

    --

    GreyPoopon
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    Why is it I can write insightful comments but can't come up with a clever signature?

  3. Re:This is a bad, bad idea. by SirSlud · · Score: 4, Informative

    While your post borders on troll ...

    If you read the article, you would understand that if no such free software exists to address your needs, most policies being discussed would allow for commercial alternatives. No one is holding a gun to your head. Also, the government isn't forcing you to use particlar software; the government is forcing the government to use particular software. It's called policy .. would you argue that not being allowed to show up at work naked is an infrigment on your 'freedom'?

    --
    "Old man yells at systemd"
  4. Microsoft spokesman Ricardo Adame sez: by mcfiddish · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Technology should compete on its merits in a free market."

    Gosh, he won't last long at Microsoft thinking like that :)