linux mention in hansard

[Ben.Westgarth at facs.gov.au]

Not as far down the list as you would hope. Earlier this year Microsoft
successfully shut down a Melbourne based *charity* known as PCs for Kids. They
were busy fixing up old computers and passing them on to the less fortunates
among us. Each computer came fitted with a copy of Windows (95 I think - but it
may have even been 3.11).

Enter lawyers from Microsoft: Where are your licences boys?

Thankfully, Microsoft managed to put a stop to this charitable activity which
was clearly threatening to collapse the ir corporate empire and make a mockery
of the values which have brought our society to a point where the richest
company in the world considers it a worthwhile pursuit to stop a small
Australian charity from giving away a handful of *old* copies of windows in an
attempt to help out some kids stuck in poverty.

The last I heard about this (a couple of weeks ago), an arrest warrant had been
issued for the dude who started this charity (evil, evil man), for failing to
appear at court hearing. Good on him I say.

Cheers, Ben Westgarth





David Gibson <david at gibson.dropbear.id.au> on 02/11/2001 13:56:18

To:   linux at samba.org
cc:    (bcc: Ben Westgarth/User/FaCS)

Subject:  Re: linux mention in hansard



On Fri, Nov 02, 2001 at 01:49:42PM +1100, Matthew Hawkins wrote:
> On Fri, 02 Nov 2001, Brett Worth wrote:
> > Did the text also say that they were puting Linux on machines that didn't
> > already have Windows on them?  I was under the impression that a Windows
> > license was not transferable so they should ALL be getting Linux right?
>
> Microsoft want everyone to think that - fortunately in Australia we have
> laws that stop them from enforcing that (until they use their illegally
> obtained money to buy off (more) politicians to change said laws)

...and I imagine Australia is a fair way down their list as far as
that goes.

--
David Gibson             | For every complex problem there is a
david at gibson.dropbear.id.au   | solution which is simple, neat and
                    | wrong.  -- H.L. Mencken
http://www.ozlabs.org/people/dgibson


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