[Linux-aus] linux-aus Digest, Vol 12, Issue 4

[Jonathan Oxer]

On Fri, 2008-03-07 at 14:20 +1100, James Collier wrote:

(Quote from Monash IT Services):

> We thank you for your concern however monash do not advertise such
> products
> on there own accord. It is companies such as Microsoft who approach
> Monash
> and though Monash are allowed to advertise there products.

That's an extremely interesting statement that I suspect was made
off-the-cuff but could have big ramifications, particularly as you now
have it "in writing" from Monash. It raises a bunch of questions, such
as:

* What is the specific nature of the commercial relationship that
"allows" Monash to advertise Microsoft products?
* Would any other company who approached Monash have their products
advertised in the same way? If not, why not?

Does anyone on this list work in a company that provides OpenOffice.org
to its customers? If so, I'd jump on this response as an open invitation
and approach Monash IT with a request to have your product promoted to
students for $0.

Monash then have two options: they either agree to promote it, or they
refuse. If they promote it, great! Job done. If they refuse, it provides
an opportunity to ask them to explain the nature of the relationship
with Microsoft that "allows" them to promote Microsoft products while
refusing to do the same thing for other companies.

But please be nice about it: there are good people working in Monash IT,
and they're not the enemy. They're making decisions based on the
information they have available and what they see as being best for
their customers (ie: students and teachers), so the thing to do is show
them the benefits of promoting FOSS and win them over so they become
advocates rather than getting them offside.

Cheers   :-)
-- 
Jonathan Oxer
Phone +61 3 9723 9399
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