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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."

10 of 869 comments (clear)

  1. Oh, the irony of it.... by ChiefGeneralManager · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...it might just be me, but is that a Windows 2003 Server ad that appears on the page along with Ernie Ball's story?

  2. More raids please by cjcormack · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe the BSA should carry out more raids and "convert" more people to Linux!

    1. Re:More raids please by Zemran · · Score: 5, Funny

      At $100,000 each raid it would still be more profitable for them than producing reliable software.

      --
      I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
    2. Re:More raids please by tiled_rainbows · · Score: 5, Funny

      For somebody whose job is filling out forms all day, invoicing and exporting, why do they need a Web browser?

      because otherwise they will go insane with boredom, you insensitive clod!

      --

      evil math within Nature's Cubic Creation!
    3. Re:More raids please by IamTheRealMike · · Score: 5, Funny

      More to the point, look where he's posting to.

  3. RAIDED!!! by dcw3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    After being raided by the BSA in 2000

    Hey, I knew we went overboard with the Patriot act, but when did the BSA (Boyscouts of America) start doing raids?!?

    --
    Just another day in Paradise
  4. I'm switching by bunyip · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yep - hauling out my piano and dumping it. It's time to learn to play guitar.

    I wanna support these guys and I'd feel pretty silly just buying strings.

    Alan.

  5. I own an abacus :) by CGP314 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't care if we have to buy 10,000 abacuses

    I bet Abacus Inc is pretty pissed at the Red Hat right now. That's one big contract to miss out on.

  6. Don't.... by SushiFugu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do not taunt Happy Ernie Bal...er.. wait, wrong ball.

  7. Re:Actually by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 5, Funny

    Show me proof of ownership for your toilet. Bet you can't!

    Will a hard dump of its contents do?

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg