From: "Joe Barr" 


In the war between proprietary and free/open-source software in state and
local government over the past two years, Texas has established itself as
ground zero. Texas Senate Bill 1579, for example, which seeks to ensure
that free/open-source software is given a level playing field when
competing with proprietary products in state agencies, was deemed important
enough to recently get posted by Slashdot.

This week, I'm reporting live from the front lines of three related battles
in that war. I'll recount a visit with Senator John Carona, the sponsor of
SB 1579. You may be aware that Senator Carona sponsored the UCITA bill in
Texas two years ago, and thereby hangs a tale.

But first, I'll update you on two other stories from Texas I've written
about previously: the City of Austin's Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft
and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's (TDCJ) battle with Microsoft
over the same sort of licensing issues.


http://www.linuxworld.com/2003/0324.barr.html





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