Group condemns abuse, threats

By RICHARD WOOD

The president of the Open Source Society has hit out at threats and abuse on the internet targeted at local CD replication firm Software Images.

Peter Harrison said the postings at global "nerd-centre" Slashdot had hurt the open source community and stepped way over the line.

Slashdot is a popular forum that allows anonymous contributions and disclaims any responsibility for postings to its website.

When a link to a story in the Herald last Tuesday regarding Software Images was posted by "Timothy" to Slashdot, it sparked a frenzy of more than 450 postings.

The story concerned Software Images' decision not to replicate 500 Linux CDs for society members, because of intellectual property concerns.

It was also revealed that the firm has an agreement with Linux rival Microsoft containing a non-competition clause, which both companies ultimately denied was relevant.

The postings on Slashdot ranged from support for Software Images' right to do business as it sees fit and speculation about its motives, to abuse and threats targeted at the firm and a deluge of criticism of Microsoft.

Software Images' staff cellphone numbers and email addresses were posted and people encouraged to call, email, and flood their web quoting system.

An anonymous person posted alleged criminal records of Images staff on the site, but the Department for Courts is highly sceptical of their authenticity. Normally criminal records are publicly available only to the individual or to someone authorised by the individual.

In a letter addressed to the Herald but also published on Software Images website, chief executive Allan Morton wrote: "The feedback that has since been directed to our staff and our business has been mostly disgusting and a sad reflection of the improper power of the press and the internet.

"Sadly, rather than altering the decision, it has in fact reinforced it."

He said the postings did the Linux community "no favours", and he blamed the Herald for causing them, claiming the newspaper was "prepared to damage the good reputation of our business to advertise the interests of others".

Society head Harrison was one of the last to post on the subject last week. His message said that while he was worried about the proliferation of exclusivity agreements in New Zealand, it was not acceptable for people to make threats to companies and their employees.

"I am deeply upset that people would take it on themselves to write abusive and threatening emails, and abuse people by phone," he wrote.

"It's not a good look for open source in New Zealand, but more importantly it's JUST WRONG!"

Harrison said the society and Software Images had always been professional and polite in their dealings.