Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Dutch Gov't Doubles Back On Open-Source Goals

Posted by timothy on from the oversight-overseeing dept.

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?"

4 of 348 comments (clear)

  1. Excellent news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    This is great news for Microsoft. Linux is doomed to fail based on it's lack of stability, usability and innovation. Anyone who says anything contrary is a loser Linux zealot troll with a weak grasp on reality, and I say this in kindness. Now, stop your childish whining and learn to love Microsoft, because they're taking over.

  2. Our current government... by Yaa+101 · · Score: 1, Troll

    Is the most corrupt one in many many years...

    I hope that both the related ministers and MS executives get a big bucked of shit over themselfs.
    After that a long jail sentence...

  3. Re:OT: What does "Dutch" mean? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Brabant, Limburg, Zeeland, Twente, Grun en Fryslan moeten zich afscheiden van corrupt Den Haag! Kankerhollanders zoals jij snappen geen ene reet van hoe de politiek zich de afgelopen 50+ (en ver daar buiten) heeft geprofileerd: DOOR en VOOR hollanders.

    USA != Amerika
    Holland != Nederland
    Engeland != Groot Brittanje

    Niks 'technically'. Factually.

  4. Novell open source? by ski2die · · Score: -1, Troll

    "open source companies like Novell"... so where can I download the source code for ZENworks and Groupwise? Also, I'd like my free copy of SuSE, where do I get that from? And can I please get a link to the source code for Red Carpet? Novell, open source? Puh-lease!