[free-sklyarov] Fwd: Mike Zimmerman on the BSA Campaign

Wed Aug 29 11:16:11 PDT 2001

(Forwarded from the eWEEK Newsletter, with Mr. Zimmerman's support)

-----Original Message-----
From: eWEEK News <eNewsandViews at eletters1.ziffdavis.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 12:24:35 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: The Fear Aspect of the Truce Campaign

=========================================================
--------   ENEWS AND VIEWS   --------
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A weekly newsletter delivering news, analysis and commentary
from the editors and writers of eWEEK's News department

August 29, 2001 // Volume 1, Issue 30

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=========================================================
In This Edition
=========================================================
--OUR TAKE
The Fear Aspect of the Truce Campaign

--NEWS
1. Linux in the Enterprise: 'Verdict Still Out'
2. Microsoft Patents a Threat to Open-Source
3. Palm Hires AT&T CTO to Run OS Subsidiary

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=========================================================
Our Take
=========================================================
THE FEAR ASPECT OF THE TRUCE CAMPAIGN

-- By Michael R. Zimmerman --

I've been writing about the Business Software Alliance's
Truce Campaign for about two months now in news stories in
eWEEK, eWEEK.com and a column in this space. The response to
the coverage has been overwhelming. Readers are coming out
of the woodwork to give us kudos and offer their personal
stories--and complaints--about the misleading and
threatening message that the BSA sends out in its letters
and radio commercials. (See links below.)

But one aspect of the Truce Campaign, which I brought up
with the BSA as well as member companies, that I found most
troubling I could not write about--that is, I couldn't
without delving into the world of psychology and the human
psyche. But I'll do so here and without the safety net of a
psychologist or textbook to gauge your reaction and ask for
your feedback. It has to do with the fear factor of the
campaign.

It's obvious that the Truce Campaign was carefully thought
out and its message carefully crafted so that it would be as
ominous as possible without being illegal. As
ominous-sounding, say, as an audit letter from the Internal
Revenue Service. I contend that the BSA crafted a harsh
message with enough misleading information with the
intention of frightening people into NOT complaining. Not
complaining to places such as the Better Business Bureau,
their state's attorney general, their local Chamber of
Commerce, etc. 

In my research I was astounded that the BBB, for example,
had received only two(!) official complaints about the BSA
and its Truce Campaign. The ACLU not only hadn't received
any complaints but also had never heard of the BSA or the
Truce Campaign. The attorney general's office in New
York--the Truce Campaign trampled through the state in
July--as well as other local AG offices actually questioned
why anyone would call their office to complain. And the
president of the Massachusetts Software & Internet Council,
Joyce Plotkin, not only said she hadn't heard about the
Truce Campaign but defended actions to curb piracy and
illegal licensing practices because they hurt the state's
software entrepreneurs. 

So there you have it. My questions are these: If you
received Truce Campaign letters, or similar letters from
Microsoft, were you afraid to complain about it to any of
the aforementioned organizations for fear of reprisals from
the BSA or Microsoft or the government? Were you even afraid
to mention the letter to other people, such as colleagues,
friends, loved ones out of embarrassment? Were you afraid to
complain for any other reason?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, I'd like to
know. But more importantly, I'd like you to call the BBB at
(202) 393-8000 and lodge a complaint. Or, phone your state's
attorney general office to complain. 

To read an eWEEK article about BSA members defending their
tactics, click here:
http://eletters1.ziffdavis.com/cgi-bin10/flo?y=eKUj0B3z2y0DUm0MaB0A4

To read an eWEEK article about the BSA campaign, click here:
http://eletters1.ziffdavis.com/cgi-bin10/flo?y=eKUj0B3z2y0DUm0MaC0A5

To read an eWEEK Editor in Chief Eric Lundquist's take on
the BSA campaign, click here:
http://eletters1.ziffdavis.com/cgi-bin10/flo?y=eKUj0B3z2y0DUm0MaD0A6

To e-mail eWEEK Executive Editor of News Michael R.
Zimmerman, click here:
mailto:mike_zimmerman at ziffdavis.com

=========================================================
News
=========================================================
1. LINUX IN THE ENTERPRISE: 'VERDICT STILL OUT'

Linux is not completely ready for the mission-critical
enterprise space as yet, but it is heading in that
direction, Shane Robison, chief technology officer for
Compaq Computer Corp., said yesterday in his keynote address
at the opening of the LinuxWorld conference in San
Francisco. "Many corporations are hesitant to adopt Linux,
as it lacks a one-stop support network that is robust and
reliable. Bugs also need to be fixed rapidly, and
corporations need highly skilled staff who can provide
complex system integration and migration," Robison said.
Linux scalability has been enhanced with the release of the
2.4 kernel, with SMP scalability to 16-way now possible, but
this is "more likely on four- and eight-way systems,"
Robison said. To read the story, click here:
http://eletters1.ziffdavis.com/cgi-bin10/flo?y=eKUj0B3z2y0DUm0MZu0An

------------------------------------------------------------
2. MICROSOFT PATENTS A THREAT TO OPEN-SOURCE

Members of the open-source community are concerned by
ongoing moves from Microsoft Corp. to acquire a range of
software patents that the company could potentially use down
the line to attack and try to restrict the development and
distribution of open-source software. And much of that
concern is being directed toward open-source desktop company
Ximian Inc.'s Mono Project, an open-source initiative to
replace part of Microsoft's .Net product line, including a
way to run C# programs and the .Net Common Language
Infrastructure on Linux. Bruce Perens, Hewlett-Packard Co.'s
open-source and Linux strategist, told eWEEK on Monday that
an increasing number of people in the open-source community
are very concerned about the Mono Project and by Microsoft's
initiative to buy software patents and to patent as much of
its own technology as it can. To read the story, click here:
http://eletters1.ziffdavis.com/cgi-bin10/flo?y=eKUj0B3z2y0DUm0MZv0Ao

------------------------------------------------------------
3. PALM HIRES AT&T CTO TO RUN OS SUBSIDIARY

Palm Inc. on Monday announced that David Nagel, chief
technology officer at AT&T Corp., is taking the reins at
Palm's new operating system subsidiary. Nagel's appointment
is the latest in a series of management and organizational
changes at Palm, which has faced economic troubles all year.
Nagel, 56, will join the company on Sept. 17. At AT&T, Nagel
was both CTO of the company and president of AT&T Labs. To
read the story, click here:
http://eletters1.ziffdavis.com/cgi-bin10/flo?y=eKUj0B3z2y0DUm0MZw0Ap

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