[NTLUG:Discuss] Hidden Malware in offshore productsraisesconcerns

[Greg Edwards]

Tom Adelstein wrote:
> "Neil Aggarwal" <neil at JAMMConsulting.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>>Tom:
>>
>>I think it is up to the client to determine if they want the
>>source code or not.  Usually, asking for the source code means
>>the client will have to pay a higher rate, so they usually opt-out
>>of it.
>>


> 
> Neil,
> 
> I agree with you totally, except that I am going to take a serious political stand against any American company outsourcing software overseas.
> 

I've been following the H1B and Indian outsourcing issues since about 
'93 and while you're both right you're both wrong.

The source code issue is allot deeper than just contract issues.  Some 
of the issues involve the Indian government and not allowing IP out of 
the country.  Some US companies (MS is one) have subsidiaries in India 
and can't even get some of the source code that they own out of the 
country.  Some companies have simply entered into bad contracts due to 
the short sighted goal of quarterly profits.  I don't claim to know all 
of the details but the general point is that software developed in India 
by Indian companies (no matter who the parent company is) is not 
exportable in it's source form.  I caught the tail end of an interview 
the other day where a local (Dallas) company is planning to increase the 
number of tech workers in their offshore operation from 9,000 to 29,000 
in the next 18 months.  The majority of these jobs are going to India.

The H1B issue was not forced down our throats by Dashal and the 
democrats.  H1B was started (IIRC at 15,000) by members of both parties. 
  The real problem started when it was pushed through the roof by some 
big companies (Arthur Anderson just to name one) and several republicans 
from places like Calif and Texas (Delay and Grahm were backers).  The 
amount of money spent on H1B in the name of a talent shortage is 
staggering.  The opposition has been there all along from groups like 
the NACCB, but no big money support.  None of the tech companies have 
fought against H1B.  I think the current number is around 159,000 and 
they carry a 6 year visa so it's not just 159,000 workers.  It's 159,000 
new workers, plus those already here plus, those that have gotten their 
visas extended.  Nobody in the leadership is screaming for a reduction 
due to the condition of our computer industry.

I'm not a democrat, but Dean is the only candidate, on either side, that 
has said that defense contractors should not be allowed to import 
products assembled by non US workers to be paid for by US tax dollars.

-- 
Greg Edwards
New Age Software, Inc. - http://www.nas-inet.com
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