Spanish Linux User Association Files Complaint Against Public Administration

Michael J. Jordan, Linux Online Staff

December 12, 2004

A Linux user association has filed a formal complaint with the office of the Ombudsman (The People's Defender) against the Social Security Administration of Spain. Hispalinux, a national association of Spanish GNU/Linux users has threatened legal action against the country's central government over the inability of Linux users to access the Social Security's web services. These access problems, according to Juan Tomás García Molina, president of Hispalinux, adversely effect those who use Linux and need to access the system to carry out transactions, some of which are mandatory for companies and individuals in Spain. Some who have not been able to use the system are facing penalties, according to the group. At present, users can only access the Social Security's "Sistema RED" with Microsoft Windows.

The group, which on Friday posted the full text of the complaint filed with the Ombudsman's office, has made their position known on the Hispalinux website. "It is logically unacceptable," writes the group's governing board, "that in order to receive services and subsidies from the Spanish government that one would have to first pay for a license from a private company". The group states that this would be "equivalent to having to ask for permission from a private real estate firm to deduct the cost of a new house from your taxes".

Hispalinux has also recommended that those companies and individuals facing penalties also take legal action. According to the group, Spanish citizens should not be forced to acquire operating system licenses from Microsoft, who they point out, has been convicted of monopolistic practices. They also site the software giant's legal troubles in the European Union.

Along with the presentation of the formal complaint, the group has promised to pursue any and all necessary legal action against the Spanish public administration until the situation is remedied.

Hispalinux website (in Spanish): http://www.hispalinux.es/

Michael J. Jordan can be reached at Michael.Jordan**AT**Linux.org