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On Wed, 2004-01-21 at 12:55, Chris Gehlker wrote:
> On Jan 21, 2004, at 10:52 AM, Derek Neighbors wrote:
>=20
> > I think they do understand "preferred benefits". Ask them if they=20
> > would
> > like their vendors to be able to peek at their books anytime they like
> > with out their permission. Ask them if they would like their vendors=20
> > to
> > have unlimited and unauthorized access to their customer lists without
> > their consent? I suspect all of them would say HECK NO! They may not
> > understand computers, but they understand what is "right". ;)
>=20
> Accept that I would have to genuinely believe that the EULA gives their=20
> vendors and I don't believe that. I have heard the argument that the=20
> Windows EULA conflicts with the duty of small organizations that I deal=20
> with to maintain the privacy of their clients, donors, and patients.=20
> They strike me as fanciful at best. I note that none of the lawyers=20
> associated with FOSS, folks like Eban Moglen, have even dignified this=20
> theory with a comment.
>=20
> None of my clients are foolish enough to rely on me for legal advice.=20
> One of them is reputed to have the best legal mind in Arizona. He runs=20
> his firm on Windows. He is considering a change but *not* for the=20
> reason you site.
Okay I will humor your theory that I am indulging in pure fantasy. Then
I will ask.. Ask your customers if they want to do business with vendors
guilty of breaking federal laws that related unlawful business
practices? Ask them if they want to do business with vendors that if
they feel slighted by your payments to them, have no problem sending in
federal agents and shutting down your business for multiple days.
Just so you know. Microsoft has been convicted on Federal Antitrust
Laws[0]. Also, there are a great number of stories from the Business
Software Alliance that prove they will use federal agents (as well as
local ones) to break down the doors of businesses. You can ask Ernie
Ball corporation (Sterling Ball to be specific) if you like. He would
be glad to tell you why he won't use proprietary software any
longer[1]. Of course, these are just all tales from a mad lunatic..
Even if we didn't go to extremes. I am sure if you tried to explain to
them that the software they think has a shelf life of a few years could
well go belly up in a matter of days or even be unsupported in a year,
putting them in a position of uncertainity. Ask Peoplesoft customers
how they felt when they heard Oracle might buy and shelf the Peoplesoft
product[2]. Yes they were afraid. Seriously afraid. I know, I was in
the middle of a major Peoplesoft deal when the news broke. Unsupported
software? I know at least 10 counties that run accounting software that
does what they need just perfectly. They don't have money for new
software. The vendor is end of life-ing the product they use. Forcing
them to upgrade (off the mainframe to x86 Machines) or buy another
package. Between the 10 counties this is between an 40 to 180 million
dollar problem.
[0]
http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/f4900/4909.htm
[1]
http://news.com.com/2008-1082_3-5065859.html?tag=3Dlh
[2]
http://news.com.com/2100-1012-1014200.html?tag=3Dnl
--=20
Derek Neighbors
GNU Enterprise
http://www.gnuenterprise.org
derek@gnue.org
Was I helpful? Let others know:
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