Guitar String Maker throws away MS

[mobrien_12]

http://news.com.com/2008-1082_3-5065859.html?tag=lh

Sterling Ball's company (Ernie Ball, makes guitar strings) got screwed by the BSA during one of their gestapo-style raids which found "a few dozen unlicensed copies of programs." The company was fined $100k.  

His response was to make his whole company move to OSS.  It's a really good success story.

[Faust]

quote:"We won't do business with someone who treats us poorly."

I love this guy already.    

edit:
 

quote:Any thoughts on SCO's claims on Linux?
I don't know the merits of the lawsuit, but I run their Unix and I'm taking it off that system. I just don't like the way it's being handled. I feel like I'm being threatened again.

Fuck love, this guy is my next God.  

[ August 21, 2003: Message edited by: Faust ]

[HibbeeBoy]

This article is getting printed and passed around at my place. My ears are stilling ringing from the VP who is well pissed off with M$ !

I like this guy. He is a non tech business guy with a common sense approach to IT for his size of business.
What kind of a country is this where armed Marshalls turn up at your place of business on Microsofts behalf ? This is an outrage, it should be the other way round. Loudhailers outside Gate's office, "Come out Bill with your hands up you fucking fraudster !! "

[ August 22, 2003: Message edited by: HibbeeBoy ]

[jasonlane]

Hmmm, perhaps that needs to be organized as a co-ordinated event at M$ headquaters world wide. It would give the cause lot's of press coverage and the man on the street might actually get to know that there are alternatives out there.

This guy rocks though, repect  

[ August 22, 2003: Message edited by: Zardoz ]

[sime]

Bummer,

pain in the mic'da having to fork out $100,000 to $MS BEFORE discovering Linux and it's associated Open Source software, Expensive mistake. Still one lives and learns  

Let's think about this... a few dozen copies OK lets say 36 copies... that works out @ $100,000 / 36 copies  = $2777.8 per violation.

"Well slap my thigh and call me Roger...  I had no idea that the retail value of William's crap was so high!"

Shame Ernie didn't come up here for a chat, he could have donated the $100,000 to the site, felt good about it and ended up running Linux just the same    

Ernie rocks, I will now buy all my guitar strings from this gentleman.

"Welcome to the Light Side Sir, may the force be with you ALWAYS!"

Sime