Doug Koobs wrote:
> They were not raided because they wouldn't upgrade. They were raided because
> they were not in compliance with Microsoft's licensing requirements. After
> the raid, and after they were fined $90K, they began the conversion to
> Linux... Read more at
> http://www.worldtrademag.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/coverstory/BNPCoverStory
> Item/0,3481,76659,00.html
>
> Doug
For the benefit of those too lazy to read the whole story...
Perhaps one of the most noteworthy moves Ernie Ball undertook occurred
less than two years ago. Similar to other events encountered by the
company that could have been setbacks, this one turned out to be a
blessing in disguise.
"A disgruntled ex-employee who was in charge of making sure we were
Microsoft compliant turned us in to the Business Software Alliance,"
Ball says. The BSA was created in 1988 and includes such companies as
Microsoft, Adobe, Borland, and Symantec. One of the goals of the
organization is to crack down on software piracy. Ball's biggest
complaint was what he says was the heavy-handed treatment his company
received.
"We were raided by armed Federal Marshals and completely shut down for a
day. Then you have to swear you won't touch any data other than what is
minimally necessary to run your business," he says. "I don't believe you
should treat a customer that way." After the investigation was
completed, Ernie Ball was found to be noncompliant by 8 percent.
Recalling that time, Ball says, "A lot of professionals I hired went
back and audited their own software and found they were out of
compliance by 20 percent. It's nearly impossible to be totally compliant."
The company ended up paying a $90,000 settlement. "Thirty-five thousand
of it was Microsoft's legal fees, which is automatic in cases like
these, so the penalty was actually lower," says Ball, who decided at
that moment his company would become "Microsoft free." According to
Ball, "Everyone said we couldn't do it. It took us about one year [to
convert from a Microsoft system]."
Ernie Ball uses Sun Microsystems' StarOffice-which is equivalent to
Microsoft's Office suite-on a Linux-based network and UNIX mainframe.
"There are a few snags," Ball says. "But, the problem with Microsoft is
that when it crashes on your desk your IT person's got to get up and go
in there and fix it. When you're on a Linux system they sit at their
computer and dial in and fix it. And, I haven't had to buy XP, and I
haven't had to buy new computers."
The StarOffice application suite runs on Solaris operating environment,
Windows, and Linux, and is designed to be compatible with Microsoft
Office. Target audiences include small businesses and home offices,
education, large enterprises with mixed platform environments, and
government.
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Enjoy...
Gnorb
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