[Linux-aus] Software patents: Munich has put Linux project on hold!

[Arjen Lentz]

Hi all,

This is very relevant for the FTA:

====
The city of Munich has put its Linux project on hold pending assessment
of the legal and financial risks due to swpats.
Originally, they wanted to start the bidding process for the "base
client" (which is supposed to be installed on 14,000 desktops) at the
end of July, and they have decided not to do so for now.

This significant step may alert a lot of people in politics, media and
industry to the swpat problem.
====

Obviously, there are companies in the industry that would rather not
have such bad news for open source.  However, it is much better for the
problem to be addressed (while the legislative process is still going
on), and ignorance would not lead to a solution but only to a serious
problem in the future.


Now let's assume that
 - Munich is a town in Australia,
 - software patents come into force in AU through the FTA, and
 - such a big rollout does not happen because of software patents.

What will be the alternative? And how many billions of dollars would
flow out of the country through purchasing that solution?


Regards,
Arjen.
-- 
Arjen Lentz, Technical Writer, Trainer
Brisbane, QLD Australia
MySQL AB, www.mysql.com

Sydney 18 Oct 2004 (4.5 days): DBMS Introduction Training
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