Government IT News For VARs — January 7, 2014
In the news, the Department of Veterans Affairs has added access to open data on its website. Also in the news, a VAR could be banned from doing business with the federal govenment in the wake of allegations of channel stuffing prior to an ISV acquisition.
“VA Open Data” Launched
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has added “VA Open Data” to its website. This “home of open data and APIs” provides tools and resources that can be used to develop web and mobile apps from VA resources. Featured data includes VA facilities information, resources for homeless veterans, and benefits and services available to family caregivers of veterans.
VAR Faces Allegations Of Channel Stuffing
Channelnomics reports a VAR could be barred from future business with the federal government after allegedly channel stuffing to inflate the earnings of ISV Autonomy before its $10.2 billion sale to Hewlett-Packard in 2011. HP alleges the fraud totaled $8.8 billion. The VAR, MicroTechnologies, resold Autonomy software to both government organizations and private sector businesses. The article reports the U.S. Small Business Administration suspended the VAR on Dec. 20, 2013, from federal deals due to a separate allegation. MicroTechnologies was given 30 days to respond to the action. The article also states allegations have been made against other channel partners.
Patent Infringement Lawsuit Heads For Court
The patent infringement lawsuit filed by Juniper Networks against Palo Alto Networks will go to trial in February 2014. Channelnomics reports that the suit alleges Palo Alto, a firewall vendor, used Juniper-owned technology. Palo Alto has filed a countersuit infringed on its intellectual property.
Government IT Talking Points
In a two-part series, E-Commerce Times outlines the debate over NSA surveillance, providing arguments that it is a violation of rights and opposing arguments that it’s necessary to protect U.S. citizens.
The Los Angeles Times reports one-fourth of GPS tracking devices used to track criminals released in Los Angeles County are faulty. The technology is mandated for high-risk sex offenders, and L.A. has used the technology for domestic abusers who had violated restraining orders and for violent gang members.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Government IT Resource Center.