Becta reports Microsoft to the Office of Fair Trading - 19 October 2007
Here are three extracts from a 19/10/2007 Kable's Government Computing news item:
"The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency has referred Microsoft to the Office of Fair Trading for alleged anti-competitive practices in the schools software market Becta, the government's education ICT partner, made the complaint on 19 October 2007. It also relates to concerns over Microsoft's policy on document interoperability."
..."The agency's main concerns surround the limitations Microsoft places on schools using its subscription licensing arrangements and the potential interoperability difficulties for schools, pupils and parents who wish to use alternatives to Microsoft's Office software, including "free to use" alternatives."
..."Becta advised schools that have already entered into a school agreement licensing model to consider their renewal and buyout options alongside the OFT's findings. Schools and colleges should only deploy Office 2007 when there is satisfactory interoperability with alternative products."
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