[CoLoCo] Microsoft Licensing changes the standard of an entire nations schools

[Michael "TheZorch" Haney]

John Edwards wrote:
> Found via TechDirt:
>
> After a school teacher in Russia bought computers for his school and 
> they were found to be loaded with illegal copies of Windows he was 
> eventually tried and found guilty of piracy.
>
> Now the Russian government had declared that all schools will use free 
> software 
> <http://www.computerworlduk.com/toolbox/open-source/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=1423&blogid=14>.  
> IF they insist on using anything else, they cannot purchase it using 
> government funds.
>
> Way to go MS.
LOL.  They are their own worst enemy ... same goes for the MPAA, RIAA 
and ESA and their knee-jerk overreaction to overinflated piracy claims 
(even though its been proven again and again and again and again and 
again and again that piracy actually promotes sales, yeah go figure, 
weird but true).  The harder they squeeze the more that slips between 
their fingers.

Russia is a big country, MS just lost a huge revenue market.  While some 
schools may go Windows, when they can afford it, most schools will not 
because they don't have the money.  If they're like the schools here in 
the US they definitely don't have the money.  This should be sending a 
very loud and clear message to M$ that their products are just too 
expensive and their licensing is just too draconian.  They've both 
become a liability for groups like schools and government thus making 
open source far more attractive and practical.

-- 
Michael "TheZorch" Haney
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