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Ernie Ball - Model For Open-Source Transition?

Posted by simoniker on from the minus-the-piracy-bit dept.

fr0z writes " Ernie Ball is a company that makes guitar strings. After being raided by the BSA in 2000 without warning and fined $100,000 for a few unlicensed copies of software, CEO Sterling Ball vowed not to give another cent to Microsoft and within 6 months, according to CNET News, had the whole company switched to Red Hat Linux, OpenOffice.org, Mozilla, and other free software."

4 of 869 comments (clear)

  1. Thats like... by imsabbel · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    someone who lost his driving license because of speeding exlaiming that he will now drive with a bicyle because thats the better way and all cars are bad...
    Come one. If these guys were cool, they would have used Linux instead of warez in the fist place

    --
    HI O WISE PRINCE. WHT TOOK U SO DAM LONG?
  2. Ernie Ball, the world's leading maker of premium g by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    uhm... shouldn't "Ernie Ball, the world's leading maker of premium guitar strings".. have enough $$$ to actually pay for the software they use if they choose to use that specific software?

    Has a load of unlicensed copies and then complains about he having to pay for it, whats that guy's major malfunction?

  3. Re:I'm switching by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    You people are SUCH LOSERS. You're going to change the things you do just because some company in Bumsville, Nowhere decided to try and stick it to Microsoft?

    My god... GET A LIFE!

  4. Re:Oh come on by wagemonkey · · Score: 2, Flamebait
    Read the article:
    San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based company that turned up a few dozen unlicensed copies of programs.

    If he's using a few dozens copies of high-end business software, it could EASILY amount to the price he had to pay.

    It's nice to see a business move to open source, but it's not like this guy didn't deserve what he got.

    From the Article:
    How did that happen?
    We pass our old computers down. The guys in engineering need a new PC, so they get one and we pass theirs on to somebody doing clerical work. Well, if you don't wipe the hard drive on that PC, that's a violation. Even if they can tell a piece of software isn't being used, it's still a violation if it's on that hard drive. What I really thought is that you ought to treat people the way you want to be treated.

    Perhaps you should read all the article?