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# Nice Martha from Redmond Gets into Trouble
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/19282/
- Published: 2006-06-23T17:06:21.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:34:59.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:15

Martha Nalebuff seems like a nice woman. So why did the woman next to me in  
the audience boo her, pelt her with paper, interject gasps of disbelief as  
Martha spoke? Because Martha was here at iCommons to explain Microsoft's  
decision to add a down-loadable module to Office that lets users easily insert  
a Creative Commons license into their spreadsheets, presentations and texts.  
  
Sounds innocent enough, no? Was Martha booed because there are crowds in which  
Microsoft can just do no right, or is there substance behind the knee-jerk?  
Gilberto Gil, 60's Bahia icon turned Culture Minister of Brazil, even  
published the first document using the technology today.  
  
Martha gave three reasons why BillG liked the concept: it gives the Office  
user more choice (in determining the rights under which content is published);  
it builds bridges; and it raises awareness of licensing issues.  
  
At the end of her speech, I congratulated a tense-looking Martha on her  
bravery, and asked her about the three reasons: \`\`you didn't mention," I  
proposed, \`\`that Software and content go together like beer and peanuts. They  
are great complements. So more "open" content is great news for improving the  
software experience of users."  
  
Martha, still stressed but feeling a little less aggressed, agreed: \`\`There are  
a whole lot of good reasons for this that I didn't mention. Yes, that is one  
of them. But I've been on planes for 3 days and have had no sleep."  
  
\`\`I am mystified thought that your slide mentioned three rather anodyne  
reasons for support in Redmond, and not this one. Don't you think that Bill  
might have quite quickly seen that better, widely available, Office formatted  
content means a bigger market for MS software. Isn't that the reason for  
getting cosy with CC?"  
  
Martha let the crowd peel her away from me to her next podium. Good luck  
Martha. My advice: own up to the commercial attractions of maintaining the  
ecology of content, or credibility will continue to be stretched.