The British Educational Communications and Technology
Agency (Becta) has complained to theOffice of Fair Trading(OFT) about
Microsoft's alleged anti-competitive practices in the schools
software marketplace.
The agency says schools that subscribe to the company's
licensing arrangements are limiting those schools' ability to use
Microsoft's Office alternatives, because of potential
interoperability difficulties.
Two separate reports by Becta
published this year have highlighted their concerns about
choice, competition in the marketplace, value for money for
schools, and interoperability.
Since the reports' publication,
Becta has been in discussions with Microsoft to address the
issues identified, but although they said some progress has been
made, fundamental issues remain unsolved. Because of these, and
after reviewing legal advice, Becta complained to the OFT.
A Becta spokesperson said, "Becta is determined to get the best
deal it can for schools and the wider educational system, and to
make it as cost-effective and convenient as possible for
educational customers to acquire the ICT products and services they
choose. This demands an effective educational ICT marketplace and
the avoidance of impediments to effective competition and
choice."
The agency is advising schools not to move to Microsoft's School
Agreement subscription licensing model. If schools have already
entered into a School Agreement licensing model, Becta said they
should consider their renewal and their buyout options alongside
any findings the OFT may make.
Becta also said schools and colleges should only deploy Office
2007 when its interoperability with alternative products is
satisfactory. That would imply effective support by Microsoft of
the internationally approved ODF file format.
It is not the first time
Microsoft has been referred to the OFT. A Microsoft
spokesperson said, "We have not yet seen a copy of Becta's letter
so we are unable to make a specific comment at this stage. Everyday
schools across the UK benefit through using our technology and
participating in our academic programmes. We are in ongoing
discussions with Becta on this matter."