Have you been lobbied?
Home again after one week traveling at first to Budapest and then to Geneva. In the Hungarian capital I talked mainly to representatives of public administrations of this – in the sense of free software – rapid developing country. One current matter is how to do a procurement process and give free software a chance to participate. Well, I think this question is really answered by many other member states and they would have a closer look, e.g. to the Netherlands. Hopefully.
In Geneva I gave a presentation about LiMux at the linuxdays.ch, the biggest event in the french speaking part of Switzerland. Attendees were from private companies and public administrations as well.
One question I have been asked both times was: what was Microsoft’s reaction after loosing Munich? Did they try to step up the political pressure? Did they try to convince decision-makers to do the other way?
Well, I answered them like I always do, of course. The best is to be prepared that their lobbyist will come and visit everyone who can decide anything. Realising this helps, to see that’s just their way to sell products. Not to improve the failing points, but to convince anyone, that he needs useless new things.
But the intensity the questions were asked shows me, that there may be real problems. Also my last dispute with Wouter van Vugt (a non self-confessed Microsoft lobbyist) points this way. Maybe it’s time for a next penalty by the European Commission for them?