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IF YOU HAVE been monitoring the technology news abroad,
you may have noticed an interesting fact: Countries
across the globe, including Germany, France, and
China, are actively considering using open-source
software in government work.
It should come as no surprise that Microsoft is not
sitting idly by while this occurs. Microsoft
representatives reportedly have been attempting to
communicate the benefits of their solutions to the
appropriate officials.
What is surprising is that some government officials
appear to be very well-versed in the benefits of using
open source for government applications. One such
official is Dr. Edgar David Villanueva Nunez, a
congressman of the Republic of Peru.
Villanueva was instrumental in designing Peruvian Bill
1609: Free Software in Public Administration. If
adopted, the bill would mandate that government
agencies in Peru utilize open-source software when
there is a choice between open-source and proprietary offerings.
As a result of his efforts, Villanueva received a
letter from the general manager of Microsoft Peru
suggesting that passage of Bill 1609 would be a
mistake. The letter claimed that "by making the use of
open-source software compulsory, [the bill] would
establish discriminatory and noncompetitive practices."
It also claimed that the bill would damage local
industry, reduce job creation, and endanger security
and intellectual property rights. And, just for good
measure, the letter went on to assert that the bill is
built on the false assumption that open-source
software is without cost, and that embracing open
source would disrupt the growth of a Peruvian software
industry.
In short, the letter claimed that open source would be
to Peru what the Black Plague was to medieval Europe.
But what is absolutely amazing is the response that
Villanueva gave to the claims. In a brilliant piece,
which has been translated into at least six languages,
the congressman systematically dismantled the arguments.
Using logic that would make any programmer proud, the
statesman proceeds to untangle the FUD (fear,
uncertainty, and doubt) that weaves its way through
the Microsoft letter. Because it is sizable, I cannot
do justice to the reply here, but you can find it at
http://www.pimientolinux.com/peru2ms/index.html .
Why is this significant? Simple. Most of the FUD
surrounding open source these days mimics the
objections Microsoft frequently raises. As such,
Villanueva's well-reasoned response is a must-read for
anyone with doubts about open source.
He is neither a free-software guru nor someone trying
to make a buck. He is an end-user who has done his
homework and determined the real value of open source.
The result is spectacular.
Discuss Villanueva's perspective in the InfoWorld Open
Source forum at http://www.infoworld.com/os or
contact Russell at pavlicek@linuxprofessionalsolutions.com.