Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand?
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started by: zoobabzoobab
on: 1185185174|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
number of posts: 5
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Some rumors are saying that Microsoft's representative has blackmailed the Government and the Standardisation body in New Zealand with something like "If you don't say Yes to OOXML, we will revise our license terms with the Government for all Microsoft products you use. There will be sanctions". We are looking for some people from New Zealand to investigate this.
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Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand?
zoobabzoobab 1185185174|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

This has happened during the OOXML meeting of the Technical Committee it seems, and we are looking for people in New Zealand to investigate this. Maybe starting to know who was at the meeting would be a good start. And ask them what has been said.

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unfold Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand? by zoobabzoobab, 1185185174|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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Re: Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand?
Anonymous (58.28.158.x) 1188889261|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

This is a lame rumor. If Microsoft were to try anything of the sort, I suspect the New Zealand government offices would all be using OpenOffice within a matter of months.

Microsoft did solicit their fanboys at TechEd to rally in favor of OOXML, and also placed a newspaper ad trying to build public support (perhaps the first time this has ever been done in support of an ISO vote?). They even got the "Enterprise architecture manager" for a mid-sized organization (Kiwibank) to shill for them. But as Standards New Zealand decided to vote against OOXML this lobbying obviously didn't give them the desired results.

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unfold Re: Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand? by Anonymous (58.28.158.x), 1188889261|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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Re: Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand?
Anonymous (80.197.127.x) 1185190811|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Well…. If this has even the smallest amount of trouth in it, it should be clear to all what to expect if MS is favourized more by choosing a document format they control.
I would love it if there was some evidence, and the government had the guts to say : "We'll convert to open source anywhere we can"

Annoyed Dane

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unfold Re: Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand? by Anonymous (80.197.127.x), 1185190811|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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Re: Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand?
Anonymous (212.81.217.x) 1185194453|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Just the same that happened in Denmark with the intent from Microsoft to see Software Patents legalised in Europe (fortunately software and business methods are not patentable in Europe, though they keep trying):
http://wiki.ffii.org/Navision050215En

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unfold Re: Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand? by Anonymous (212.81.217.x), 1185194453|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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Re: Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand?
Anonymous (202.169.209.x) 1188464769|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

According to this newspaper blog:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10460752
Standards New Zealand has voted "no" to OOXML.
Makes me proud to be a Kiwi!

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unfold Re: Rumors of Microsoft blackmail in New Zealand? by Anonymous (202.169.209.x), 1188464769|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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