[Linux-aus] Article in BRW: Free Software Threat

[Donna Benjamin]

The Draft Legislation has now been released for Review.
http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/agdHome.nsf/Page/RWP04FC63D41045DEA5CA2571DF0021BCA3

We have 3 short weeks to read, digest, comprehend and reply.

- Donna


On Mon, 2006-09-04 at 17:14 +1000, Donna Benjamin wrote:
> Printed in BRW Issue August 31 2006, Page 18.
> 
> Free Software Threat
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Legislation being drafted by the federal Attorney General's department
> could threaten the legality of open-source software, forcing companies
> to start paying millions of dollars for licensed that they currently get
> free.
> 
> The new laws could drive up technology costs for Australian companies
> and add to the $20 billion information and communications technology
> trade deficit.
> 
> Use of open-source software, which is distributed under public licence
> (unprotected by copyright laws), is growing worldwide.
> 
> Linux, the open-source operating system for servers is one example.
> Research group IDC predicts that 29% of servers in 2008 will ship will
> be shipped with Linux. An estimated one million copies of
> OpenOffice.org, a free alternative to Microsoft Office, have been
> downloaded on Australia's 10 million PCs.

-- 
Donna Benjamin
Conference Director linux.conf.au 2008 http://www.mel8ourne.org
Board Member Open Source Industry Australia http://www.osia.net.au
Executive Director Creative Contingencies http://www.cc.com.au