Two on ODF in Massachusetts
Over at ConsortiumInfo.org, Andy Updegrove reports on the positive state of Massachusetts’ ODF policy:
“I’m happy to report that the official who has direct authority over the implementation of the open format policy, Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance Thomas H. Trimarco, met with ITD General Counsel Linda Hamel earlier today, and unequivocally assured her that Peter Quinn’s departure “will result in no change to the Administration’s position on the ODF standard.”
Meanwhile, Groklaw counterattacks David Coursey’s opinion of the Mass. ODF situation, calling his article “mean-spirited” and “FUD.”
PJ’s counterattack contains a great list of 8 specifications that should be considered necessary for a standard to be truly open, but what I like best is her conclusion:
“And do you know why it’s inevitable that the world is going to increasingly turn to Free and Open Source software? Because no one muscles you to use it. It’s based on old-fashioned values of trust and honesty and fairness. Who doesn’t want those things? No. Really. Think about it. Who likes to be told they have to use a product or they’ll be punished? That is so wildly offensive on so many levels it truly amazes me that Coursey can even think it could work out in the end for any company. It’s contrary to human nature.
Incidents like the libel of Peter Quinn cost Microsoft business. Here’s why: There’s something in the human heart that utterly despises a bully.”