From: Jon Galt <jongalt@pinn.net>
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 11:55:19 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Microsoft/Phillipines
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.971124223818.2537B-100000@everest.pinn.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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This is from Infobeat News - Morning Edition, 11/24/97

> *** Microsoft grants software amnesty to Philippines
>
> Philippines President Fidel Ramos met with Microsoft Corp. Chairman
> Bill Gates Friday and collected a certificate legalizing much of his
> government's pirated computer software. After a ceremony to observe
> the signing of agreements tightening relations between the software
> giant and the Philippines, Gates gave Ramos a license for free
> software that was the equivalent of a partial declaration of amnesty.
> The license allows the Philippine government to use older Microsoft
> products, such as the DOS operating system, that previously were
> being used illegally by many government agencies. See
> http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=6086523-f4f

I think it is really cool that a private company can actually negotiate 
somewhat as an equal with a government.  One implication of this is that 
Microsoft is becoming a more powerful corporation - which is not 
necessarily a good thing.

But the other thing it might imply is that the power of government is 
slipping - which is definitely a good thing.

______________________________________________________________________
Jon Galt
e-mail:  jongalt@pinn.net
website:  http://www.pinn.net/~jongalt/
PGP public key available on my website.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
______________________________________________________________________