[Wylug-discuss] 'Pathetic' FLOSS Advocacy - Put it to the test?

[Mike Goodman]

On Thu, 2007-01-25 at 13:43 +0000, Dave Fisher wrote:

>   4. If you do glance at the page, you'll find that it provides a
>      relatively succint summary of important issues in it's contents
>      list, e.g.
> 
>      7 Ecma 376 contradicts numerous international standards
>      8 Ecma 376 is immature and inconsistent
>      9 Ecma 376 uses bitmasks, inhibiting extensibility and use of
>        standard XML tools
>      10 Ecma 376 relies on undisclosed information
>      ************************************************************
>      11 Ecma 376 cannot be adequately evaluated within the 30-day
>         evaluation period
>      ************************************************************
>      12 Ecma 376 cannot be reasonably implemented by other vendors
>      
This is most salient to me, thanks, Dave, for that. I am now in a
position to get a message out before having to leave for this evening's
meeting. Looking at the tome I first thought I was being asked to
respond to, I don't even have the time to scan my eyes over it, let
alone to read, absorb and understand its contents.

Cutting it to the quick, am I to understand this relates to the Open
Document Format? In which case there has been blow by blow reporting in
both The Register and ZDNet (plus probably lots of others) of the EU's
second successful prosecution of M$ for failing to publish its source so
others could, indeed use it should the monolith continue to insist upon
its use. AFAIK, M$ have not yet complied and are not at serious risk of
a third heavy fine, illustrating just how lucrative their lock ins are
for them.

Moving on, on the assumption that my understanding so is correct, is
this not our taxes deliberately being used by M$ to circumvent the EU's
rules via the UK, in spite of the fact that we pay a few £billion each
year to enable the EU to enforce its rules?

And would it not be pertinent to point that fact out to both the
Quango-based civil servants who will find themselves guilty of
perverting justice, and to a few opposition MPs who will be glad of
further evidence of the current incumbents' lack of propriety in
supporting a foreign proprietary brand?

To other matters, and whether and if so how, WYLUG should act as
advocate for OS - something for after this one is over, for me, which is
why I am responding to an earlier post rather than engaging with Dave
Fisher in the very worthwhile discussion on the matter. Suffice it to
say, wearing my FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) hat, I have been
asked to sit on the committee of the Yorkshire & Humber Assembly,
responsible for advising how best grant funding to businesses for ICT
should be prioritised, among other policy matters. I would appreciate
the opportunity to discuss this with any interested WYLUG participants.
Most of our membership don't have the expertise and as I am, as with
everything I undertake, intending to keep the OS sword drawn during my
participation, any help I can get in formulating the arguments for
keeping large vested interests from taking over at each and every
opportunity will be very much appreciated.

Best regards,

Mike