[Linux-aus] Greens battle Microsoft

[Leon Brooks <leon@cyberknights.com.au>]

http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,6827248^15319^^nbv^15306,00.html

One of my non-Linux .edu.au contacts spotted this one:

    THE Greens have signalled they are willing to lend their
    political muscle to Democrat moves to introduce open source
    preference legislation.

    Greens hold key parliamentary seats in several states where
    the Democrats are introducing the Bills, and are politically
    sympathetic to laws that challenge the power of big business.

    Describing Microsoft founder Bill Gates as "a bit of a robber
    baron", NSW Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon warned the legislation
    would anger US trade lobby groups. 

    Greens in NSW and South Australia are backing Democrat Bills
    that call for open source to be used in preference to
    proprietary software "where practicable".

Interesting dilemma: if the US trade lobby groups agitate, they get seen 
as US Imperialist interfering old baggages; if they don't, the 
legislation goes through with little opposition.

Cheers; Leon

-- 
http://cyberknights.com.au/     Modern tools; traditional dedication
http://plug.linux.org.au/       Committee Member, Perth Linux User Group
http://slpwa.asn.au/            Committee Member, Linux Professionals WA
http://linux.org.au/            Committee Member, Linux Australia