Microsoft Software Licensing Causes Concern for UK Government

The English don’t like agreements that are not well-defined. As a result of the licensing terms of Office 2007 and Vista, along with concerns about compatibility of the Office 2007 formats,  Becta, the technology in education branch of the government, not only is recommending another choice, it has filed a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading. The allegation is that Microsoft engages in anticompetitive practices in the academic software market.

The talks are occurring, but no agreement has been reached. The  Microsoft agreements ensure that Microsoft enjoys a flow of money continuously, and that is one of the complaints of Becta, as the schools are not always in session, so that the machines are not always in use. Also the problem of the cost of early withdrawal from the program is a sticking point.

Some of this furor may have been stemming from problems across the globe, as the Australian people have been very upset by their government signing similar agreements with Microsoft. The deal sounded good from the features standpoint, but the sticker shock was a bit too much for the citizenry.

All of this must seem like a bad replay of what has happened in the European Union, and also like a spreading virus across the globe; one which causes Microsoft to be rejected like a foreign body.

Ars Technica article

itwire.com article from Australia

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[tags] Microsoft, Becta, Office of Fair Trading, Office 2007, Vista, School Agreement Licensing [/tags]