I suspect that the only “facts” presented by M$ to the bureaucrats and politicians were the size of the payoffs each will get after RO pays for the licenses.

Lucian, please understand that the FLOSS-promoting effect of any Linux/Open-Source conference is to a very large extent diluted by having Microsoft on the sponsor list. It’s like listening to your doctor telling you about how you should quit smoking because it’s bad for your health … and then going outside together for a cigarette. That’s cognitive dissonance.

> Regarding Microsoft, they have the right to come and present their facts, is the single way for FLOSS community to meet them and
> tell them what they think. Remember, they are on our territory there. And I see this like a positive fact. How do you want to
> change them if you don’t speak to them?

Lucian, thinking that you will somehow be able to “change Microsoft by talking to them” is a very, very dangerous mindset.
Not only will it get you nowhere, but you are playing right into their hands.
It’s in Microsoft’s DNA to attempt to destroy FLOSS (or at least slow down its adoption).
Do you think Microsoft might change course if you talk to them? Look at what they’re really doing behind the scenes, while sponsoring FLOSS conferences and sweet-talking the Linux community about interoperability and other “candy”:
http://slashdot.org/~christian.einfeldt/journal/223179

> The real problem is that nobody there is asking the government about these things. Nobody is really taking actions to make these
> contracts transparent. The people are finding about it only after the deal is closed. And we talk here about ten and hundreds of
> millions. Public money from the pockets of Romanians. At least if the country would be so rich that could afford it …

I completely agree.
I believe a well-organized legal entity taking the government to task on behalf of the Romanian free software community can make a real difference.
My hopes are that ProLinux can be that entity.

Related to sponsorship, as far as I’ll be in charge organizing eLiberatica, I can promise you no sponsor would influence somehow their position at the event.
On the other side, I still consider that any legal organization should be allowed to sponsor eLiberatica as far as this will not influence in a way or another the honesty of the conference or would favor them.

Regarding Microsoft, they have the right to come and present their facts, is the single way for FLOSS community to meet them and tell them what they think. Remember, they are on our territory there. And I see this like a positive fact. How do you want to change them if you don’t speak to them?

This post was mentioned on Twitter by LucianSavluc: RT @eliberatica: Romanian Communications Ministry will pay EUR 90.18 million for the right to use 163,427 #Microsoft licenses – http://bit.ly/aMx9X2...