Re: [Fsfe-uk] Munich, swpat and Linux - possible in UK

[Ian Lynch]

On Thu, 2004-08-05 at 11:19, Chris Croughton wrote:
> On Thu, Aug 05, 2004 at 02:00:49AM +0100, Tom Chance wrote:
> 
> > After the recent news about the Green Party stirring the city of Munich 
> > into 
> > anti-software patent action [1],
> 
> I think anti-software sums it up.  It's a good example of people being
> scared by SP issues, certainly, but putting the project "on hold" is not
> something we want.  If the mayor's view has any effect then that will be
> good (perhaps the German government is more responsive to their local
> councils than the UK one, it could hardly be less).
> 
> > it made me think: would this be remotely possible in the UK? Are there
> > any Government-related projects that use Linux 
> 
> Are there any at all?  I suppose education is sort of "government
> related", but not very.

Its very Gov related but fragmented. Schools are budget holders. That is
an advantage in getting minority products to those that know, but a
disadvantage in terms of using this as a lever with the DfES - at least
until there are a lot of schools doing it.

-- 
Ian Lynch <address@hidden>
ZMS Ltd