From Peru, with love
A Peruvian congressman dismantles Microsoft’s arguments against an open source-friendly bill
IF YOU HAVE been monitoring the technology news abroad, you may have noticed an interesting fact: Countries across the globe, including Germany, France, and China, are actively considering using open-source software in government work.
It should come as no surprise that Microsoft is not sitting idly by while this occurs. Microsoft representatives reportedly have been attempting to communicate the benefits of their solutions to the appropriate officials.
What is surprising is that some government officials appear to be very well-versed in the benefits of using open source for government applications. One such official is Dr. Edgar David Villanueva Nunez, a congressman of the Republic of Peru.
Villanueva was instrumental in designing Peruvian Bill 1609: Free Software in Public Administration. If adopted, the bill would mandate that government agencies in Peru utilize open-source software when there is a choice between open-source and proprietary offerings.
As a result of his efforts, Villanueva received a letter from the general manager of Microsoft Peru suggesting that passage of Bill 1609 would be a mistake. The letter claimed that “by making the use of open-source software compulsory, [the bill] would establish discriminatory and noncompetitive practices.”
It also claimed that the bill would damage local industry, reduce job creation, and endanger security and intellectual property rights. And, just for good measure, the letter went on to assert that the bill is built on the false assumption that open-source software is without cost, and that embracing open source would disrupt the growth of a Peruvian software industry.
In short, the letter claimed that open source would be to Peru what the Black Plague was to medieval Europe.
But what is absolutely amazing is the response that Villanueva gave to the claims. In a brilliant piece, which has been translated into at least six languages, the congressman systematically dismantled the arguments.
Using logic that would make any programmer proud, the statesman proceeds to untangle the FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) that weaves its way through the Microsoft letter. Because it is sizable, I cannot do justice to the reply here, but you can find it at .
Why is this significant? Simple. Most of the FUD surrounding open source these days mimics the objections Microsoft frequently raises. As such, Villanueva’s well-reasoned response is a must-read for anyone with doubts about open source.
He is neither a free-software guru nor someone trying to make a buck. He is an end-user who has done his homework and determined the real value of open source.
The result is spectacular.
