Texas has some legislation proposed for encouraging government
facilities to use Open Source software instead of closed, proprietary
software. This is Microsoft's response:

http://www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate/newsletter/finnews_032503.asp

 A small number of state legislators have introduced legislation that
 would require state governments to consider open source software when
 acquiring new software, and provide justification for using
 proprietary software products, including Microsoft's. Proposed
 legislation in Oregon (House Bill 2892) and Texas (Senate Bill 1579)
 seeks to establish a procurement bias for open source software, which
 would hurt competition and innovation in the software
 industry. Similar legislation will likely be introduced in other
 states as well. For more information on the procurement debate, visit
 the Initiative for Software Choice. 

I get a kick out of this. Microsoft complaining about their competitors
hurting competition and innovation in the software industry. I love
the irony!

What is the ``Initiative for Software Choice'' anyway? And how is the
offering of Open Source alternatives to closed proprietary software
contrary to ``Software Choice?'' After all, Microsoft said it
themselves, that the bills would require state governments to
``CONSIDER open source software when acquiring new software''...

Mike
-- 
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Michael Halcrow                          | [EMAIL PROTECTED]    
Internet Security Research Lab           | Dept. of Comp. Science  
                                         | Brigham Young University
It's not easy being green. It takes way  |
more food coloring than you'd think.     |
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