I ran into this at USF, trying to sell them a particular solution to a
Linux education problem. I had what I thougt was a pretty good 'in',
with backing from several professors, and introductions... But, after
getting down to the meat of the situation, I got the news that the
Business School was not interested in teaching anything about Linux.
First because it wasn't used in any business situation... Second,
because they were able, through a special M$ program, able to buy the
entire suite of _all_ M$ products for the staff for $750, so that it
would be easy for them to teach it... It was reasonably clear that this
was what influenced the first statment. We chatted a while longer, but
never got past that.
Todd
On Thu, 2003-10-30 at 15:35, Eric Jahn wrote:
> not shocking to me, but still sucky. please respond make any reposnses to
> slug-politics
>
> ---------- Forwarded Message ----------
>
> Subject: [governmentforge] Shocking news about Microsoft's ability to kill
> Open Source
> Date: Thursday 30 October 2003 03:10 pm
> From: Tom Adelstein <adelste@netscape.net>
> To: Gov open source <gov-list@ssc.com>, schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net,
> governmentforge@yahoogroups.com, Ossi@oss-institute.org
>
> Hello,
>
> I'm scheduled to speak at the Desktop Linux Consortium on November 10th
> at Boston University. My subject relates to Linux in State and Local
> Government, a subject about which I have some knowledge.
>
> This morning I discovered from a reliable source that we will not be
> invited back because Microsoft offered BU a Gold Partnership agreement
> and marketing money to never "do this again".
>
> Jsut slightly infuriated, I inquired anonymously about the situation. I
> contacted the Department of Justice and spoke to an attorney. Imagine my
> surprise to discover Microsoft didn't do anything wrong. What they did
> doesn't violate the law. I couldn't believe it.
>
> Imagine, all the time spent trying to stop them from restraining trade
> and it means nothing. They can pay companies to "not sell" Linux. They
> can provide "marketing money" to make sure their products are put ahead
> of others, make sure certain products don't get shelf space, advertise
> on every page featuring Linux or Open Source Software and they don't
> break the law. Basically, they're not considered criminals as far as I
> can tell.
>
> Now, if they threaten you with bodily harm, that's different. But what
> does one get other than maybe a settlement if they do? That's something
> else I found out.
>
> I've followed Microsoft's antics for years now and seen some amazing
> things. Some of those include what I thought were "kickbacks". But in
> reality, they must not be kickbacks. I guess if they won a contract and
> paid the procurement officer, that would be a kickback. But, no one has
> accused them of that - at least not in any way about which I know. Price
> cutting, sure they do that. Lobbying, they do that too. Whining, I hear
> they whine and spin. Evidenttly, nothing is wrong with that either.
>
> So, all I can conclude is that we shouldn't call them crooks. We might
> wind up the subject of a defamation suit.
>
> I wonder if we could suggest a boycott?
>
> Would doing that be a violation of law?
>
> Tom
>
>
>
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-- Todd Robinson <mtrob@penguix.com>
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