<br>Que bien! un poco menos de softare propietario, UNICa marca de avance el soft libre<br><br>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><div class="gmail_quote">
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Victory for Free Software in Canada<br>
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> <a href="http://www.ledevoir.com/societe/justice/290230/victoire-pour-le-logiciel-libre" target="_blank">http://www.ledevoir.com/societe/justice/290230/victoire-pour-le-logiciel-libre</a><br>
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Translation:<br>
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> <a href="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" target="_blank">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</a><br>
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Victory for Free Software<br>
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The Government of Quebec can now free themselves from the stranglehold<br>
of multinational<br>
<br>
<br>
Fabien Deglise<br>
<br>
June 4, 2010<br>
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The Quebec Superior Court considers that the R�gie des rentes du<br>
Quebec (RRQ) acted illegally in 2008 by awarding a contract without<br>
competitive bidding information to Microsoft for the update of 800<br>
work stations.<br>
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In the process, the court also highlights the inconsistency of the<br>
government, while recognizing the economic and structural advantages<br>
of free software to ensure the durability and flexibility of its<br>
computers, is struggling to make up for this technology in its process<br>
for awarding contracts, and, for the benefit of multinational software<br>
associated with owners of expensive "exclusive licensing rights. Les<br>
d�fenseurs des applications libres de droits applaudissent. Defenders<br>
applications royalty free clapping.<br>
<br>
"It's a very good decision for us," said Cyrille B�raud Le Devoir<br>
yesterday, president of Savoir-Faire Linux, a company that promotes<br>
free software and decided to challenge in court the validity of the<br>
contract awarded to Microsoft by the QPP. But it is also a great<br>
victory for the Government of Quebec, with this ruling, now has a tool<br>
for liberation from the stranglehold of the multinationals on its<br>
information system. "<br>
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n Judgement of forty pages released yesterday, Justice Denis Jacques<br>
believes that the QPP has failed in its duty by awarding a contract<br>
for $ 722,848 to the firm Compugen, a distributor of Microsoft<br>
products for the update its workstations. For the board, a single<br>
supplier or the U.S. multinational, could meet their computing needs,<br>
and in this context, the Regulation on supply contracts, construction<br>
and service departments and public bodies, he could therefore grant<br>
this contract over $ 25,000 without formal competition.<br>
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Poor reading, "said Superior Court Judge that the Board has not<br>
finally proven that no other system could serve its interests before<br>
signing the digital check. "The Court considers that a tender would<br>
have to compete various suppliers who could offer unique solutions to<br>
meet the needs of the board," wrote the judge, however, decided not to<br>
cancel the award the contract, but illegally enter the bidding process<br>
for the future. "It's a decision that will set a precedent," commented<br>
Mr. Beraud, who has been battling for years against Microsoft's<br>
monopoly in the equipment of public administration.<br>
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According to him, free software, including the great ambassador around<br>
the world is the free operating system called Linux access, could lead<br>
to significant savings for governments. Its applications, downloadable<br>
for free, are also available without the payment of fees. Their<br>
computer code is also open, allowing everyone to handle and shape it<br>
according to specific requirements with in the key, a greater<br>
independence from certain suppliers.<br>
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Indeed, these "free software offer great potential for information<br>
security and protection of citizens' privacy," says even the Ministry<br>
of Government Services in a document on its website, as Judge Denis<br>
Jacques points out in his verdict.<br>
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In the U.S., the Obama administration has also decided to make the<br>
future more emphasis on this type of software on government computers.<br>
France and Brazil have also expressed in recent months their intention<br>
to get more open source software in government computer equipment. "It<br>
is software that ensure equitable access to technology and contribute<br>
to sustainable development of information systems, said Beraud. Free<br>
software is ultimately a matter of public interest, it is not just a<br>
technical matter. "<br>
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Contacted by Le Devoir, Herman Huot, spokesman for the QPP, said<br>
yesterday that the board would "read the decree and its impact on<br>
[her]" before to play the game the commentary. The agency has 30 days<br>
to bring the case on appeal, an option that could certainly be<br>
considered, "he said.<br>
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This scenario would, however absurd, says Beraud, represented among<br>
others, in this case by the famous lawyer Julius Grey: "The Quebec<br>
government still does not appeal a ruling that strengthens its ability<br>
to now enter the twenty-first century and modernize, "he summarized.<br>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Diego Saravia<br><a href="mailto:Diego.Saravia@gmail.com">Diego.Saravia@gmail.com</a><br>NO FUNCIONA-><a href="mailto:dsa@unsa.edu.ar">dsa@unsa.edu.ar</a><br>