Summary: Romania wants access to the source code of Windows, but it might as well just use GNU/Linux and encourage its use

Romania could have GNU/Linux, but for reasons that include corruption this is not the case. For a bit of background, see posts such as:

• Commentary: In Romania, the Government Serves Just Windows Users
• Dan Bulucea, Business and Marketing Director of Microsoft Romania, Escapes and Enters Google
• Head of Microsoft Romania Quits, Entryism Revisited
• In Romania, “Marketing and GNU/Linux FUD is Everything for Microsoft”; Latest Propaganda Comes From Călin Tatomir
• Microsoft and Romania: Follow the Money
• More Dirty Deals in Europe Involve Microsoft, Microsoft Lobbies
• Ballot Stuffer from Redmond Stuffs Another FOSS Conference (Romania)
• Quick Mention: It's Romania's Turn for Microsoft's OOXML Stacking
• Microsoft 'Vampires' Suck Blood of Romania's OOXML Voters, Supporters

A Romanian reader has informed us that the Romanian authorities negotiate access to Microsoft source code (original in Romanian or automated translation to English), proving of course that availability of source code is beneficial. So why don't they just use GNU/Linux, which requires no such negotiations and also permits modifications?

In the coming week I'll be writing a lot of Free software (walking the walk, not just talking about it), so Techrights is likely to be more quiet again. Please consider sending us article contributions for publication. Techrights is increasingly a group effort and more people have just approached us offering translations to other languages. ⬆