Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

Lawyer gets it: the free ride is over (and never really existed)

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

I just read this article. To quote:

Open source software had its origins in the free software movement. By now, most open source users understand that free refers to freedom, not to price. The new lesson is that the freedom belongs to the software, not to users. You are not free to do whatever you want with the open source software and may find yourself in a legal fight if what you do restricts the freedom of the software. (ed. emphasis mine).

Okay, this isn’t strictly true as it’s really referring to Free Software (GPL) rather than Open Source which includes BSD and MIT licenses which are less restrictive. After all you can pretty much do what you want with BSD and MIT licensed software including taking it proprietary.

Of course you’ve never been able to do what you like with Free Software. (more…)

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BSI UK’s standard body sells out?

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Prior to the BRM the BSI voted no. At the BRM the BSI indicated that the specification wasn’t ready. Prior to the vote, the BSI’s technical committee said no; the BSI group still voted yes. Against the advice of the technical committee. Why would they? With a single decision they have shone a very bright light on the contradictory processes that seems to exist at the BSI.

What’s interesting is the reaction to it. John Pugh MP has already raised questions, the UKUUG is seeking legal advice of the matter and numerous people are asking “just what is going on”.

One thing seems clear though; in one stroke the BSI devalued itself, devalued the standards process and made themselves a bit less relevant in an open standards world. It also raises questions about how they make decisions. With corporate interests controlling how and what the BSI approves, can we trust any new or existing standards coming out of the BSI? They have questions to answer and the silence is deafening.

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The myth of multiple “competing” standards

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

A cracking post from Rob Weir about the myth that having multiple document standards is ‘good’ for the consumer and that the market should be left to decide.  I particularly like this bit:

How many spreadsheet formats does Microsoft use internally for running their business on? Why should governments be denied choice in the same field that Microsoft itself exerts its right to chose?

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Microsoft OOXML- why is it so wrong?

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

OOXML; Office Open XML. Even the name is false as it clearly isn’t ‘open’ in the sense of non-discriminatory, particularly against GPLed implementations. It’s not at all clear whether a GPL implementation of OOXML can be done.

Then there’s the specification itself. 6,000 pages at the first round, growing to something like 8,000 after the BRM. The sheer number of technical errors, failure to incorporate other ISO standards in the appropriate places, and downright contradictions should have ruled out the specification from becoming a standard. That Microsoft shoved this standard into the ISO Fast Track by getting ECMA to rubber stamp it shows a complete disregard for the standards process. Technical committees the world over agreed that the standard shouldn’t have been fast tracked.

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OOXML is a failure as a “standard”

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

It goes without saying that I’m staggered, and appalled, at the recent events with the OOXML standardisation process. Others, more informed than me, have written extensively on the subject at sites such as Growlaw, <NO>OOXML, Open Malaysia, Bob Sutor, Rob Wier, and Andy Updegrove to name but a few. That it has been provisionally approved pending any appeals is bad enough, but Microsoft’s antics are spectacular in their ruthless disregard of ethics, due process and respect for standards.

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Born Global

Saturday, July 14th, 2007

I was reading the June/July 2007 edition of the IET Engineering Management Journal and was struck by a piece of research that’s been done in Finland by a Siv Karlson around companies that don’t bother to develop their national markets first; they just hit the global market.

Her blueprint for success includes:

  1. The company’s products are unique, ingenious and inovative.
  2. The company’s founder (or other key person) has wide experience and an extensive contact network from previous work in similar industries – does LinkedIn count I wonder.
  3. The company has strong relationships with key personnel from large, successful organisations.
  4. The company has good relationships with influential figures in the industry.
  5. All the personnel in the company are very involved and eager for it to success.

I guess what’s interesting to me is that all (or at least) most of these characteristics are important for any company to be successful in the ‘global’ economy.

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