Date: Thu, 07 Dec 2000 13:47:04 +0100
From: Mikael =?iso-8859-1?Q?Kj=E6rbye?= <mk@it-c.dk>
To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: Media release: IT Uni opens Linux Lab in Denmark


Media release

Copenhagen 1 December 2000

                      IT University takes the lead
                       with launch of LinuxLab.dk
IT developers and users around the world have a strong desire for Open
Standards in operating systems and programs. It is no wonder Linux is
quickly becoming the operating system of the future because the program
code is readily available (Open Source) and it is free to download from
the internet.

Today the IT University of Copenhagen launched Denmark's biggest Open
Source initiative when the Danish Minister for Research and Information
Technology, Birte Weiss, officially opened the LinuxLab.dk. IBM is the
founding sponsor of the laboratory.

"The IT University's LinuxLab will be the place where students meet and
participate in the development of Open Source," Research Minister Birte
Weiss said.

"From this lab knowledges and competencies about Open Source will spread
like rings in the water to businesses and the public service. This will
create new possibilities and new perspectives in connection with the the
use of Open Source programs," Birte Weiss said.

The LinuxLab's mission it to be an Open Source knowledge centre. This
knowledge will be shared internally at the IT University but also
externally with  businesses, researchers and in the public debate.

LinuxLab.dk will also encourage further use of Open Standards to
exchange digital information through innovative projects of
international quality.

IBM is one of the largest IT companies in the world. It's vision is to
build the next generation's e-business on Open Standards, including
Linux. That is why all IBM's servers and software products support
Linux.

"Open Standards will decide whether companies can play a role in the
next generation's e-business. We are proud to support the development
and application of programs based on Open Standards," said Ole Haaber,
IBM Director responsible for Nordic sales.

The sponsorship of LinuxLab.dk is part of an European initiative. IBM
also sponsors similiar centres at the Ecole Centrale Paris in France,
the Politechnico Milano in Italy and the universities in Warwick (UK)
and Dresden (Germany).

"There is a good chance that Open Source will play a very important role
in the future. Open Standards can make software less independent of a
specific operating system, break down monopolies and ensure users a
choice between software programs. The exchange of data should not depend
on using a particular software product," Mads Tofte, Director of the IT
University, said.

"The Open Source philosophy is ideally suited to a university. It offers
us the possibility to alter and distribute software to students so they
can use it on their home computers or at the university," Mads Tofte
said.


For further media information:

The co-ordinator of the LinuxLab.dk:
Hanne Munkholm (hm@it-c.dk) tel +45  38 16 89 18.


Read more about LinuxLab.dk at the IT University

LinuxLab.dk website: http://LinuxLab.dk

10 good reasons to use Linux: http://linuxlab.dk/osi/linux_ten_reasons

LinuxLab.dk mission statement: http://linuxlab.dk/lab/

Linux at IBM: http://www-4.ibm.com/software/is/mp/linux/