09.20.07
Gemini version available ♊︎Russia Hops on the OpenDocument Bandwagon As Well
Only a day after Holland had confirmed its choice of OpenDocument format, Russia was confirmed to have done the same, or at least approached a similar policy.
The stated rationale for this legislation is that “open standards will contribute to an increased number of bidders for government contracts and will increase opportunities for Russian software developers… [and] the problem of interoperability will be addressed as will the ability to access information into the future.”
This does not surprise all that much because The Register dropped some clues almost a month ago.
The Russian Government has taken a step towards endorsing ODF through an e-government program that would mandate use of software that conforms to “widely used standards” in all government contracts.
According to the Russian Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications “within the project to form an e-government concept in the Russian Federation, support of ISO/IEC 26300: 2006 is planned.”
The move has been welcomed by the Open Document Format Alliance, which said in a statement that Russia is “sending a message worldwide that software should be affordable, innovative and accessible, now and for the foreseeable future.”
Meanwhile, all schools in a very large region of Russia are moving to GNU/Linux. This was reported by the press just a couple of days ago. It followed a successful pilot project.
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Sam Hiser said,
September 20, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Given that the EU ruling was so strong, and it addresses the business practices that are askew in so many other areas — including OOXML — I wonder, Roy, if we’ll see ODF adoptions accelerating on the premise that Microsoft can be controlled?
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 20, 2007 at 7:47 pm
I don’t believe it’s just Microsoft and OOXML. You could look further at other companies and other areas where there is monopoly abuse. Given the value of the Microsoft case which becomes a precedence, it is unsurprising to see some aggressive reaction, e.g.:
Kroes slams US criticism of EU Microsoft ruling
And yes, I know you discussed this much further in your blog. I read that. Here’s one which is a day younger:
Microsoft sets spinners on court verdict
Don’t we already know ACT and CompTIA, which did the Microsoft spin on OOXML and GPLv3 as well? They are both Microsoft lobbying arm. There are a few more I am aware of and there are many examples that show their vile behavior.
A couple of weeks ago I caught this one (just one among a long series of mandatory disclosures):
Microsoft Paid Lobbyist $160,000
There were many more a month ago. What we perceived as a democracy isn’t quite so, apparently.
Just for fun, here are a few more that I can pull off my (digital) sleeve:
US politicians go to bat for Microsoft
Report Says Nonprofits Sold Influence to Abramoff
Politicians in Microsoft’s Pocket
Politics and tech companies: follow the money
Microsoft Finds Legal Defender in Justice Dept.
Lessig: Required Reading: the next 10 years
John Drinkwater said,
September 21, 2007 at 6:39 am
I’m confused; didn’t Russia just vote approval for OOXML? I know it’s not mutually exclusive, but it doesn’t seem very sensible. Maybe it was a case of left-hand/right-hand – with one hand getting a monkey
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 21, 2007 at 9:52 am
Russia voted blindly on OOXML.
http://boycottnovell.com/2007/09/17/ooxml-russia/
Maybe there are those who think and those who are manipulated (or paid to ‘think’). It sounds like Russia’s vote on OOXML was just a case of sloppiness.