More news on Open Source Documents & State Governments

Computer World, in an article linked in title, reports that many states have filed legislation requiring, like Massachusetts, the state government to use open document format (ODF) software. Microsoft has been very busy lobbying and spreading disinformation to block these laws, which would interfere with their sales of Word and other Microsoft Office products. The count per this article: 5 states have dropped the legislation and a 6th state introduced instead a very watered-down version of the original proposal. Connecticut, Florida, Texas, Oregon & California all voted the bill down. Minnesota introduced instead a bill to study the issue. So Massachusetts so far is the only state with ODF requirements. IBM and Sun both produce alternatives to the Microsoft product.