Stop Watch Web Director Mike Goodman has been extensively quoted in an online article in Digital2010 regarding Free Open Source Software (FOSS).

The essence is that Mike is against having his own technological agenda driven by vendors who cannot

possibly be aware of what his needs are. Open Source is about freedom of choice and pace of development. He perceives his views being published in this journal as evidence that at least someone responsible for spending our taxes is realising that having a foreign giant company with monopolistic tendencies writing our IT and skills agenda is utter folly.

You can read the full article on the Digital2010 web site by following the link, or go to www.digital2010.org.uk and use its navigation system to find snapshots, then West Yorkshire, then Stop Watch Web.

Digital2010 is the publication for The Digital Skills Action Plan for Yorkshire and the Humber 2005-2009. The Digital Skills Action Plan is part of the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward, and helps in developing its plans for IT infrastructure and training within the region.

Update, 27 February 2008

Microsoft Corporation was fined again by the EU yesterday, to the tune of £680+ MILLION, for what amounts to anti-competitive practices. This is its third huge fine in three years that we are aware of, for refusing to comply with previous directives to cease deliberately disadvantaging its competition. The fact that it was prepared to continue in this vein might drop a hint to some policy makers that backing them against our own IT talent may not be such a wise move after all.

If they are listening, that is.