Linux Solutions

Microsoft yesterday played down the dispute between them and the British Education Technology Agency over the software giant’s attempts at getting Office 2007 in to British classrooms.

In May Becta confirmed it had referred an interoperability complaint to the European Commission, claiming that Microsoft’s latest office suite contained too many restrictions to work fully with other document formats.

The group had previously accused MS of unfair licensing practices in the schools software market and made a formal complaint to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in autumn last year. Microsoft has now announced a new Open Licensing Programme (OLP) for government that will launch at the start of next month, which should help appease the education body.

The company said the OLP offered “a new way for public sector organisations to purchase software from Microsoft resellers” who will sell MS products at a discounted rate.

Its all fair and well slashing the price, but what about the document compatibility issues?

Microsoft’s Michel Van der Bel gave Becta this statement:

“We understand that the issue of interoperability was one of the key factors underpinning Becta’s October 2007 complaint to the OFT. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Becta to ensure that in implementing built-in support for ODF in Microsoft Office 2007 we meet the needs of the education sector.”

Becta responded, saying that they were pleased with Microsoft’s “clear commitment to effective interoperability and to the introduction of a pilot licensing programme”.

“Microsoft’s recent announcement of built-in support for ODF in Office 2007, and the very positive discussions we have had with them about their commitment to effective implementation,” said Becta’s Stephen Crowne.

“This will give schools and colleges additional flexibility to use a wider range of software. We will continue to work closely with Microsoft and the wider industry to maximise the benefit of ICT to our education institutions.”

Open Source Consortium founder Mark Taylor warned that education bodies should stop and think before being “fooled” by Microsoft’s new licensing program.

“Our view is that Microsoft has been forced to this position, and that the term ‘clear commitment’ should be read ‘dragged kicking and screaming’,” he said. “If not for the stance of Neelie Kroes and the European Commission, if not for the OOXML roadshow and the ISO controversy, if not for Becta’s OFT complaint, does anyone believe this would happen?

“Schools can now choose between long-term software freedom or a short-term discount on the next lock-in play.”