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Tiemann: Open Source Incentives

Posted Jul 4, 2009 1:17 UTC (Sat) by njs (subscriber, #40338)
In reply to: Tiemann: Open Source Incentives by stijn
Parent article: Tiemann: Open Source Incentives

First, I'm not sure whether the US government gives a fig about a 501(c) trying to lobby *other* governments. Second, "lobbying" refers (as per that glossary) specifically to influencing legislation, and much of what happens in schools etc. is not specifically determined by legislation.

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Posted Jul 4, 2009 15:09 UTC (Sat) by stijn (subscriber, #570) [Link]

There is the moral aspect as well as the legal aspect. A charitable foundation that tries to prop up a
business is morally bankrupt. Perhaps the foundation is not legally a charity if 'charity' happens to
be another legal concept, but that is not the point. I assumed that the text I quoted was a little
more than a legal statement.

Tiemann: Open Source Incentives

Posted Jul 4, 2009 22:20 UTC (Sat) by njs (subscriber, #40338) [Link]

Oh, I agree about the moral aspect. I'm just uncomfortable saying that if X is morally questionable, then a large organization must not be doing X. Hopefully the B&MGF does keeps itself removed from Microsoft's concerns, and my impression has been that the B&MGF is not just(?) a tool for publicity by other means. But I'd rather see the accusations raised here addressed with evidence than panglossian optimism.