Re: [Fsfe-uk] Fwd: OSS Watch inaugural conference, 11 December 2003

[Andrew Savory]

Hi,

On 4 Feb 2004, at 09:52, MJ Ray wrote:

> On 2003-11-28 11:54:34 +0000 Andrew Savory <address@hidden> 
> wrote:
>
> > we're talking about a conference run by an advisory service which is 
> > all about informing people of the choices involved in using open 
> > source software. One of those choices is most certainly "don't use 
> > it", and so it makes a lot of sense to have a representative of the 
> > alternative there to talk about it.
>
> It seems a clear contradiction for something "about informing people 
> of the choices involved in using open source software" to discuss not 
> using it. That's a choice involved in whether to use it, instead. I 
> see nothing in the OSS-Watch Service Objectives[1] which should oblige 
> them to accommodate proprietary software publishers (PSPs) in general 
> events: I'm sure OSS-Watch can give "unbiased appraisal" without 
> resorting to comparative studies. Of course, having PSP reps there to 
> discuss migration and interoperability (as you wrote later in the 
> message) is useful.
>
> 1. http://www.oss-watch.ac.uk/about/index.xml.ID=body.1_div.3

Holy cow, talk about dragging up an old argument.

You see nothing in the OSS Watch Service Objectives, huh? well, I see 
nothing in the AFFS constitution about endlessly debating non-issues on 
the mailing list, but it still happens.

I refer the honourable gentleman to the proposed function of the 
service:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=circular_3_03

"Provision of information of potential use in personal or institutional 
decision-making (detailed information on open source licensing models 
and specific licences, and on data pertaining to the economics of 
choosing open source software as opposed to commercial software)"

As far as I am concerned (and, presumably, the OSS Watch people since 
they invited the proprietary guys along), you can't achieve this 
without presenting both sides of the story. Given that just about the 
biggest concern for HE/FE is interoperability, you really need to hear 
both sides. But this is rehashing the argument of three months ago, and 
is a pointless waste of time. What OSS Watch do to educate people is 
(within their JISC remit) entirely up to them, so I suggest you let 
them get on with it.

Trying to salvage something useful from you rehashing this thread, 
here's two articles that may be of interest to people on this list:

- OSS Watch Inaugural Conference: Open Source Deployment and Development
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue38/oss-watch-rpt/

- OSS Watch survey findings: interoperability a major factor in 
educational Open Source adoption.
http://www.cetis.ac.uk/content2/20031217162457


Cheers,

Andrew.

--
Andrew Savory, Managing Director, Luminas Limited
Tel: +44 (0)870 741 6658  Fax: +44 (0)700 598 1135
Web: http://www.luminas.co.uk/
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