Pro-ODF Legislation Loses In Six States

ajanp writes "Computerworld discusses the defeat of pro-ODF legislation in the states of California, Florida, Texas, Oregon, and Connecticut which 'would have required state agencies to use freely available and interoperable file formats, such as the Open Document Format for Office Applications, instead of Microsoft Corp.'s proprietary Office formats.' A similar bill in Minnesota was changed to study the issue instead. There was heavy lobbying being done in private on both sides with one problem being 'the jargon-laden disinformation that committee members felt they were being fed by lobbyists for both IBM and Microsoft. Although lobbyists would tell the committee one thing in private, they got cold feet when asked to verify the information publicly, under oath.' However, 'Despite the string of defeats, Marino Marcich, executive director of the Washington-based ODF Alliance, said the legislative fight has only begun.'"

Comments

Don't Worry

[stoolpigeon]

If McCain wins and puts Ballmer in his cabinet, I'm sure all this will get straightened out.

Re:Don't Worry

[smittyoneeach]

I mean, the overall scope creep of the US Government is breathtaking, but do you really think we'll see a Department of Furniture Flinging? I don't think even Mirthless Murtha could support that, unless it were headquartered in his district, of course.

Re:deep pockets

[jollyreaper]

deep pockets

will determine the outcome. It's the American way. Very true. As Confucius say, "Man with hand in pocket feels cocky all day."

Oh shit, there goes my karma.