[Solar-general] Fwd: Victory for Free Software in Canada

Vie Jun 4 12:54:01 CEST 2010

Que bien! un poco menos de softare propietario, UNICa marca de avance el
soft libre

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Victory for Free Software in Canada

>
http://www.ledevoir.com/societe/justice/290230/victoire-pour-le-logiciel-libre

Translation:

>
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2Fsociete%2Fjustice%2F290230%2Fvictoire-pour-le-logiciel-libre&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

Victory for Free Software

The Government of Quebec can now free themselves from the stranglehold
of multinational

Fabien Deglise

June 4, 2010

The Quebec Superior Court considers that the Régie des rentes du
Quebec (RRQ) acted illegally in 2008 by awarding a contract without
competitive bidding information to Microsoft for the update of 800
work stations.

In the process, the court also highlights the inconsistency of the
government, while recognizing the economic and structural advantages
of free software to ensure the durability and flexibility of its
computers, is struggling to make up for this technology in its process
for awarding contracts, and, for the benefit of multinational software
associated with owners of expensive "exclusive licensing rights. Les
défenseurs des applications libres de droits applaudissent. Defenders
applications royalty free clapping.

"It's a very good decision for us," said Cyrille Béraud Le Devoir
yesterday, president of Savoir-Faire Linux, a company that promotes
free software and decided to challenge in court the validity of the
contract awarded to Microsoft by the QPP. But it is also a great
victory for the Government of Quebec, with this ruling, now has a tool
for liberation from the stranglehold of the multinationals on its
information system. "

n Judgement of forty pages released yesterday, Justice Denis Jacques
believes that the QPP has failed in its duty by awarding a contract
for $ 722,848 to the firm Compugen, a distributor of Microsoft
products for the update its workstations. For the board, a single
supplier or the U.S. multinational, could meet their computing needs,
and in this context, the Regulation on supply contracts, construction
and service departments and public bodies, he could therefore grant
this contract over $ 25,000 without formal competition.

Poor reading, "said Superior Court Judge that the Board has not
finally proven that no other system could serve its interests before
signing the digital check. "The Court considers that a tender would
have to compete various suppliers who could offer unique solutions to
meet the needs of the board," wrote the judge, however, decided not to
cancel the award the contract, but illegally enter the bidding process
for the future. "It's a decision that will set a precedent," commented
Mr. Beraud, who has been battling for years against Microsoft's
monopoly in the equipment of public administration.

According to him, free software, including the great ambassador around
the world is the free operating system called Linux access, could lead
to significant savings for governments. Its applications, downloadable
for free, are also available without the payment of fees. Their
computer code is also open, allowing everyone to handle and shape it
according to specific requirements with in the key, a greater
independence from certain suppliers.

Indeed, these "free software offer great potential for information
security and protection of citizens' privacy," says even the Ministry
of Government Services in a document on its website, as Judge Denis
Jacques points out in his verdict.

In the U.S., the Obama administration has also decided to make the
future more emphasis on this type of software on government computers.
France and Brazil have also expressed in recent months their intention
to get more open source software in government computer equipment. "It
is software that ensure equitable access to technology and contribute
to sustainable development of information systems, said Beraud. Free
software is ultimately a matter of public interest, it is not just a
technical matter. "

Contacted by Le Devoir, Herman Huot, spokesman for the QPP, said
yesterday that the board would "read the decree and its impact on
[her]" before to play the game the commentary. The agency has 30 days
to bring the case on appeal, an option that could certainly be
considered, "he said.

This scenario would, however absurd, says Beraud, represented among
others, in this case by the famous lawyer Julius Grey: "The Quebec
government still does not appeal a ruling that strengthens its ability
to now enter the twenty-first century and modernize, "he summarized.

-- 
Diego Saravia
Diego.Saravia en gmail.com
NO FUNCIONA->dsa en unsa.edu.ar
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