On Sun, 2005-12-18 at 11:57 -0600, Randomthots wrote: > > Only if the administrators have no understanding of economics. It also > depends, of course, on the degree to which the software is discounted in > these agreements.
The fundamental issue is in paying for machines that run competitors software. Its covered by Chapters 1 and 2 of the 1998 UK Competition Act which has its basis in EU law. > I'm interested -- intellectually -- in what sense the agreement is > illegal. By that I mean, Who's breaking the law? Is it the company or > the school officials? Its the company. A company in a dominant position in the market can not use that dominance to prevent competitors getting into the market by setting prices or trading conditions to that effect. If I supply a school with OpenOffice.org running on Linux for free, they still have to pay Microsoft if they have signed into MSSA. When they took out the agreement that might not have been an issue but its very expensive to buy your way out of the agreement once you are in it. That is why its probably illegal in any country that has this type of law but its only probably illegal until someone takes it to court and the case is proved in that country. This is where the law is weak because its expensive to go to court and MS are banking on that to deter any action against them. Its self-evident as to why its relevent to Marketing OOo. I suggest you do what I did. Go and read the relevant law in the relevant country. If it appears to be illegal make a formal complaint to the regulatory authority and help level the playing field for OOo. -- Ian Lynch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ZMS Ltd --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
