[A2k] Re: [Upd-discuss] Fwd: Blind Groups Sue ASU flor Kindle Use

[Claude Almansi]

On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 8:06 AM, Michael S. Hart<hart@pglaf.org> wrote:
>
> Please. . . .
>
> Please learn to ADD your efforts to those of others going your way,
> instead of SUBTRACTING their efforts from yours as shortsighted, or
> incorrect, or any of that.
>
> It doesn't "miss the point". . .it just doesn't do ALL you want the
> whole world to do on this matter.

And then: there is a clear law forbidding to discriminate against
people with disabilities, so it is possible to sue universities that
do so by adopting a device that cannot be used by blind people. And if
the lawsuit about the Kindle is won, then all students will benefit.

Unfortunately, there is no such clear law against short-sighted,
freedom-limiting,  technological choices.

True: when the "informatics" service of the CH federal administration
thought they could get away with paying Microsoft CHF 42 millions for
MS licenses by alleging that it was for "renewal of existing
licenses", the Federal administrative court blocked the contract as
there had never been a public call for offers, which had become
compulsory for contracts of such a cost by the time of that one (also,
that contract included some Vista OS that couldn't be described as
renewaly). See (in German)
<http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/open_source_microsoft_gericht_1.2640703.html>.

But if there are no laws forcing universities to make such a public
call for offers, then you cannot sue them for not having used that
procedure...

Best

Claude