Laurent’s Weblog

I learned this night (thanks Ludo. to point me the link to Edwin’s blog) the launch of a future big big big Open Source project…

Edwin writes :

Ongoing rumors say that the French government is soon
going to announce the creation of a major actor in the world of software development that will group together the main French Open-Source companies.*

Nicolas Sarkozy will personally announce in a few days the creation of a
brand new great public entity that will encapsulates the strength of the
French Industry in the field of Open-Source software.

The project – named “Opération Lafayette” – is thought to include Marc
Fleury (previously CEO of JBoss) as its brand new CEO. People close to
the source believe the initial list of companies will include : XWIKI
(collaboration solutions), TALEND (Open Data Solutions), NUXEO (ECM),
MANDRIVA (Operating System), EXOPLATFORM (portal & WebOS), EBM
WEBSOURCING (enterprise service bus) and BULL (IT services).

*The French government is increasingly convinced that a public entity
can become a dominant player under public tutelage and believes that
public found can be soundly used to work towards the development of
these dynamic, fast-growing companies.*

Even more ambitious, the new entity is rumored to be preparing an IPO on
RED HAT with the help of BOUYGUES, BOLLORÉ, LAGARDÈRE and DASSAULT
SYSTÈMES in the context of a public-private partnership that will
provide financing up to $5 billion. This initiative will at last give a
French company the ability to play a leading role on the enterprise
software market. The French government is keen to offer other countries
and their people free alternatives to the dominant offerings of
convicted monopolists MICROSOFT & ORACLE.

Source : Edwin Khodabakchian

In french , by Ludo