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Dutch Gov't Doubles Back On Open-Source Goals
An anonymous reader writes "Despite a 2002 unanimous vote by the Dutch parliament to prefer open standards and open source, exclusive negotiations with Microsoft were started. MPs have started asking questions already, but will add some more now that a Dutch journalist discovered that the deal will cripple the open source ambitions. The deal not only covers desktop software, but lets Microsoft deliver server software and support as well. MPs are outraged, and the EU may investigate why no mandatory public bid was started. In an open letter to the government, public organizations and open source companies like Novell raise hell. How can you ever fight bureaucrats?"
MPs are outraged, and the EU may investigate why no mandatory public bid was started.
nothing has been paid yet and an enquiry will be done, so let's avoid being indignated and be constructive against such practices...
Trolling using another account since 2005.
never keeps his promises....
:)
anyhow, nothing has been done yet, so let's not be too quick on judgements...
though I wonder why they did this.... licking heels of american companies hasn't helped us the last time (Joint Strike Fighter, anyone?)
And, yes, I'm from holland
To prevent misunderstandings: this is about the continuation of agreements to which many users feel compelled to on the short term; this does not change the fact that on mid and long term, the alternative of open source software receives all attention.
It's a mix of water and insoluble particles, usually cow poo, that is spread on fields to keep them fertile.
Both.
Because they are the same thing...
Dutch = relating to The Netherlands (country) or it main language.
"Holland" is just a small part of The Netherlands (2 provinces: South Holland and North Holland combined).
If you refer to the coutry, its people, or its language, the correct terms are "The Netherlands (Nederland)", "The Dutch (Nederlanders)", and "Dutch (Nederlands)".
Nope, sorry.
Holland is just a small part of The Netherlands. It is also a popular but incorrect name for the whole country called The Netherlands.
It's in the same league, but not quite the same, as calling the UK "England" or -oppositely- calling the US "America".
No, people often use "Holland" when they actually mean "the Netherlands". Holland is only the western part of the Netherlands, nowadays split it up in two provinces: South-Holland and North-Holland. The Netherlands has 10 other provinces however.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland for more information about Holland and compare it with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands. The word "Dutch" refers to Netherlands-related stuff.
Dutch is also spoken in Suriname and The Netherlands Antilles.
The South African language is also related to Dutch. In Belgium, there are two main languages, French and Dutch.
Ok, just to clear up some of the confusion people have stirred up:
"Dutch" means of the Netherlands, AKA Holland.
Technically, Holland is just a part of the Netherlands. However, I do not believe refering to the country as "Holland" is incorrect any more than refering to the USA as "America" is incorrect. It's common usage.
Groeten aan alle nederlandse slasdotters!
Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
English is almost as much of an PITA as dutch...
anyhoo, dutch refers to the old word that was used for the dutch language, 'duits'. Which is in effect now used for the german language...
To the point: I've created an translation of BOF's open letter. Its not perfect, so please send corrections to bartwiegmans@gmail.com
It's located at home.kabelfoon.nl/~bwiegm/index.html
The word "Dutch" comes from the old-Dutch word "diets" which means "of the people". It was originally used to refer to the language that was spoken on the streets by the commoners. Over the centuries, the elite communicated in various foreign languages amongst which Latin and French.
Apparently the term was picked up by the English somewhere and incorporated into the English language as "Dutch". We call the language (as well as anything that is related to the country) "Nederlands" ourselves*, which is of course a derivation of "Nederland". Probably the most similar word to "Dutch" we have is "Duits", which is our word for "German" (compare "Deutsch" in German).
Lourens (from The Netherlands obviously)
* with the exception of when we cheer on our football (soccer) team, in which case the proper words are "Hup Holland!"
In case someone is interested, I was bored and translated the open letter. The [...] remarks are translation notes added by me. I did it pretty quickly so there are probably quite a few spelling and other mistakes. You have been warned.
To:
Prime-Minister Balkenende
Ministry of General Affairs
PO box 20001
2500 EA the Hague
fax 070-3564683
Minister De Graaf
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdomsrelations
PO box 20011
2500 EA the Hague
fax 070-3639153
Minister Brinkhorst
Ministry of Economic Affairs
PO box 20101
2500 EC the Hague
Transcripts to:
Permanent commision for Economic Affairs
Second chamber of the States-General [Dutch Parliament]
PO box 20018
2500 EA the Hague
fax 070-3183439
Permanent commision for Internal Affairs and Kingdomsrelations
Second chamber of the States-General [Dutch Parliament]
PO box 20018
2500 EA the Hague
fax 070-3183444
Send by fax and lettermail.
Amsterdam, 10th of december 2004
Subject: state government[literaly the kingdoms' government in Dutch] contract with Microsoft
Very honored mister Balkenende, de Graaf, Brinkhorst,
The Automationguide of Friday 3rd of december reported that the state government and some muncipalities want to close an exclusive contract worth 147 milion Euro and a term of five years with Microsoft. In the realization thereof no public bidding took place.
Undersigned organisations are worried about this intention and want to make you aware of the negative effects that such a contract has on the software market and the climate of inovation in the Netherlands. Likewise such a contract is contrary to the by the Cabinet stipulated policy regarding the use of open standards and open source at the government level and the aspiration to make the government less depandant of a single software supplier. On top of this Microsoft has been convicted by the European Commision because of poor interoperability of its server software.
On the 20th of november 2002 the Second chamber spoke out unanimously for the motion [a proposal by the Parliament to the government] Vendrik in which the Government was asked to counteract concentrations in the software market, to make sure that in 2006 all sofware used by the public sector adheres to open standards and to "actively stimulate the spreading and development of software with open sourcecode (open source software) in the public sector and formulate concrete and ambitious goals for this".
The ministries of BZK [internal affairs] and EZ [economic affairs] have set up the programme Open Standards and Open Source Software (OSOSS) to stimulate government organizations in a wide sense to use open standards in their ICT-applications. Moreover the programme Purchasing Taskasignment (PIT) has set up a ICT-purchasestrategy for the state government in which the following starting points have been included: guaranteeing of interoperability and the avoidance and where necesary breaking of vendor lock-in.
Undersigned organizations are of the opinion that the closing of such a contract with Microsoft will to the locking of the door in the coming five years with regards to the application of open standards, free software and open source software. The now held contract negotiations are squarly oposed to the motion Vendrik and undermine the positive results of the OSOSS programme. On top of this the carefully formulated targets of the PIT are being bypassed.
Undersigned organizations call on the Cabinet to take in take in hand the usage of open standards, free software and open source software seriously and ambitiously. Meanwhile there are sufficient initiatives within the government that proof that such software kan offer many advantages on the areas of interoperability, security and costs.
In the opinion of the undersigned a contract of s
Since then "Balkenende" has shown a complete lack of leadership skill. His party has tried to force through cuts in pension plans despire massive opposotiion from the unions, industry AND the goverments economic think tank. Massive demonstations have no effect EVEN a gigantic drop in the polls has no effect. Even in cases where both industry AND unions together without threath of strikes agree to compensate the cuts for the workers involved the goverment wants to outlaw this.
This is part of a much larger problem in europe. You see for all the talk about america and its two party system and the Bushes and Haliburtons there is one thing to remember. People are talking about the problems in america. Michael Moore does make his documenturies. There is no such thing in holland or for that matter the EU.
Whenever you hear about corruption/incompetence/complacency in america the exact same thing is happening in europe. Withone tiny little difference. Nobody is talking about it.
Basically what you got is corrupt system, not the kind of corruption you see in the movies with brown envolopes but a far deeper backroom deals going unquestioned for ever corruption of the mind. Most of the people involved wouldn't even be able to consider taking "hospitality" from MS as being corrupted. They live in their own world wich has been carefully drained of everyone who questions things.
If you want to see the idea. Examine "group think" on places like /.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Actually its correct to say Canada is in America. Ditto mexico. For that matter its correct to say Brazil. Is in America.
/-k&z/ the lands of the western hemisphere including N., Central, & S. America & the W. Indies
3 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Main Entry: America Pronunciation: &-'mer-&-k& Usage: geographical name 1 either continent (N. America or S. America) of the western hemisphere 2 or the Americas
Peruvian Congressman Villanueva wrote a scathing letter to a Microsoft representative who tried to railroad him into an argument centered on price and how practical it would be to let Microsoft fulfill all of one's technical needs (Villanueva did not take the bait and debunked every one of the MS rep's arguments, noting in part that "it is not enough that it [the software] is technically capable of fulfilling a task"). Villanueva demanded the freedoms of free software (he was particular about which movement he sides with) and free formats for goverment use. His bill did not require free software to be used in Peruvian government work nor does it require Microsoft to change its executives.
The free software movement makes no demands who is or becomes Microsoft's executives, yet Microsoft is nervous. Microsoft has toured the country proclaiming the GNU General Public License to be like a cancer and destructive to one's "intellectual property". They are losing seats (hence their willingness to give away Microsoft Windows in some cases) and Microsoft is losing the web server market to Apache, Firefox is eating into their web browser dominance, and most importantly Microsoft provides no software freedom for their most popular programs. Even if we look at this issue in the narrow terms of market popularity, if their market lead were only vulnerable by those who somehow "convince them to hire mediocre executive leadership" they would not need to expend any effort denouncing copylefted free software.
Digital Citizen
The EU Directives 93/36/EEC (Supplies) 92/50/EEC (Services) and 93/37/EEC (Works) require that where a single order or contract shall be greater than the relevant thresholds, or by aggregation of demand (orders or contracts for the same goods/services/works or of a similar nature) over a period of twelve months or intended contract period, shall be advertised first and in their most complete form via the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).
For supplies and services the threshold is about 240,000 Euros. If they have not done this then you can find yourself in *big* trouble. There is a mechanism (The Compliance Directive) by which "aggrieved" suppliers can take whatever public body has not followed these procdures correctly to court and seek a judical review, with a range of remedies including potentially getting a contract overturned and damages.
Unless the Dutch goverment has been following the regulations closely they could find themselves in deep water, from either an "aggrieved" supplier or the Commission.
How do I know all this? Well I have the dubious privalege of working for a U.K. public sector employer (a.k.a. a University) and have to negociate this minefield of regulations on an almost daily basis. Why the hell should some branch of the Dutch goverment feel they should be excempt is what I want to know.