- Fsf-friends - lists.fsci.in

Re: [Fsf-friends] Fw: failure notice, Use of Windows in FSFS.IN
by Sebin Jacob 19 Dec '08

19 Dec '08

On the use of windows in fsfs.in, I think the matter is pretty clear. Windows was loaded in the personal laptop of Sun's representative who spoke in technology track. The organisers already admitted that, it was their mistake not to explicitly mention that no speakers should use proprietary OS for making presentations. Then why is this hue and cry? Its not a stock market and there is no bullish trend present. Stating this, I would also like to point out that, free softwares are not only available in free operating systems, but they are equally available and present in proprietary OS's as well. If you want to showcase a platform independent API or SDK, what will be the option left out, if no proprietery OS is allowed in the conference venue? Again, is it good/ethical to develop free softwares in proprietery platform according to your convictions? Another area where proprietery OS was spotted were the stall owned by SBT, one of the sponsors of the conference. There is an ongoing exercise to tie it up with the boycott novell protest in National Conference on Free Software held at Kochi. The issue with Novell is clearly different. Novell was not present in the official sponsors list for Kochi conference duly published in its website. But they were made sponsors over the night. If you are not trying to be blind, it is easy for you to recognise. Novell legitimised M$'s claim on software patents by making use of a loophole in GPL.v2 which prompted the community to come out with a better licence option GPL.v3. If you are all for patents, its better to quit this movement. On the contrary, the sponsors of fsfs.in were known already and if anybody had anything against state bank, then they should have said about it in advance. This is just a flamewar and is not according to merit. I was present full time in policy track at this (fsfs.in) conference and there weren't a single instance were M$ product was used. Whenever a speaker, tended to voice against the spirit of freedom, the delegates raised objection then and there itself and they were not manhandled with. The freedom to protest was observed, not curtailed. But I have some disagreements on smartcity being the sponsor of such an event and that is political. I am all against SEZs and software SEZs are not needed for FLOSS development. This is a personal view, and I do not know anybody who shares the same opinion. If my reading is correct, Anivar might also possess some problem with it. The second thing i was not satisfied with was, though it was not the usual way with journos, I registered for the conference and paid the delgate fee. But on asking for a receipt, I was denied one. But I got more enlightened than the Rs. 500/- I paid, and so I have no big problem with it. Now whether or not to use proprietery software, the answer is, whenever a viable free version is available to execute a project, use it, and if not, go for the proprietary option. I am not an FS fanatic. I have a dual boot system and I use Adobe products which are proprietary. As they run only on Windows and Macs, I use Windows. As the Scribus development is going on, I hope, soon there will be a time, when i could completely opt for Free Software only. As I am not a techie or an engineer, I have not personally contributed to any code, but was active in discussions related to Malayalam localisation of GNU/Linux as a volunteer of SMC. If you think that one could qualify as a free software enthusiast only if he writes some code, I am not your prey. I am attracted to the concept of freedom and am trying myself to understand the code. I dont think, its a holy grail to stay away from. Regards. Sebin -- ...if I fought with you, if i fell wounded and allowed no one to learn of my suffering, if I never turned my back to the enemy: Give me your blessing! (Nikos Kazantzakis)

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Fw: failure notice
by Arvind Kumar Chinniah 19 Dec '08

19 Dec '08

Dear friends, My friend vijayan tried to send a message to fsf-friends which couldnt reach... you all.. so.. i thought I will forward the mail... Can anybody tell why it could not reach the list. I hope it is not done purposefully. If done so.. i think the list lost its.. 'Free' ness and the boasted openess to criticism. --- On *Mon, 12/15/08, MAILER-DAEMON(a)yahoo.com <MAILER-DAEMON(a)yahoo.com>*wrote: From: MAILER-DAEMON(a)yahoo.com <MAILER-DAEMON(a)yahoo.com> Subject: failure notice To: srinivasanvijayan(a)yahoo.com Date: Monday, December 15, 2008, 10:31 AM Hi. This is the qmail-send program at yahoo.com. I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses. This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out. <fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in>: CNAME lookup failed temporarily. (#4.4.3) I'm not going to try again; this message has been in the queue too long. --- Below this line is a copy of the message. Return-Path: <srinivasanvijayan(a)yahoo.com> Received: (qmail 6046 invoked by uid 60001); 14 Dec 2008 15:31:16 -0000 DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; q=dns; c=nofws; s=s1024; d=yahoo.com; h=X-YMail-OSG:Received:X-Mailer:Date:From:Reply-To:Subject:To:In-Reply-To:MIME-Version:Content-Type:Message-ID; b=4lLMDBsPwcLGlieXvc/SFOYNWHWSITdU6Oe4cgjn4vv3rknd1yqGNa9RvErFDAI8+lvLhzscU/Wd1I+GssES98XP6WZJYQmU8jyXAEDdgA5XuZlp9wECdRHgJE2FslTeRMEOvOqdVVK3v0A5v962XM6XaN8XmbJSUmDK1ZZp+2E=; X-YMail-OSG: sfznaasVM1mFb8J5X2aDSG8WN5JOSp8j6eiOzSJkKb9cyxFo7aCzr_ZcPELlNQc_Mr751VnZeXWfqwnUUZ8390VqQNa29TCTMQqUFPKSKk5Ov8sz16g80k7lImkrLRRVGDfHluv_NS2hviITCWZyIjrv8U65femuSFhL2B7q5uD6LyZN1RWWYbc74bOJ5vVNQdssr9QWgXzyU7cSm9DRbLEJQMo55Q-- Received: from [59.92.1.61] by web34307.mail.mud.yahoo.com via HTTP; Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:31:16 PST X-Mailer: YahooMailWebService/0.7.260.1 Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:31:16 -0800 (PST) From: VIJAYAN S <srinivasanvijayan(a)yahoo.com> Reply-To: srinivasanvijayan(a)yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Fsf-friends] Use of Windows by some speakers To: fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in In-Reply-To: <729f28760812130622y3ea84cfaya88b20972facada4(a)mail.gmail.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0-1472797888-1229268676=:5536" Message-ID: <398190.5536.qm(a)web34307.mail.mud.yahoo.com> --0-1472797888-1229268676=:5536 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dear Friends, =A0 Why did not the organiser release the code of conduct that inculde prohibit= ing the use of properity software in the venue when a participant apply to = conduct their program? When the organisers failed to issue such whip during= the stage of organising and what is the point in expecting the audience to= raise this issue at the venue. Most of the time the audience are passive a= nd it seldom be spontaneous unless it is organised. I expect the FSF india = should issue a statement in thier website explaining their position on this= issue and=A0should not hesitate to come forward with an apology. =A0 Vijayan --- On Sat, 12/13/08, Arun M <arun(a)gnu.org.in> wrote: From: Arun M <arun(a)gnu.org.in> Subject: [Fsf-friends] Use of Windows by some speakers To: fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008, 8:22 AM Dear Friends, =A0Thanks for pointing out that some of the speakers used=A0proprietary=A0s= oftware in FSFS conference. It is a serious mistake and=A0 I will be taking this up in organising committee of the conference to ensur= e that this mistake is not repeated.=A0 I talked to the person in charge of the technical track and he said two or = three speakers in technical track used=A0proprietary=A0operating system.=A0 It seems that they had their development environment setup in their laptops= with=A0proprietary OS hence wanted to use their laptop. Unfortunately=A0no one=A0pointed out this at the venue. Otherwise we could = have corrected there itself. Most of the free software activists were spending their time in Policy track and exhibition.=A0 In the policy track, participants objected to speakers when they took posit= ion which was not acceptable to free software=A0 community.=A0 I request my friends to raise voices when ever you see these kinds of mista= kes. By raising your voice and protesting,=A0 we will be able to better educate others. Mistakes can be an=A0opportunity= =A0for education.=A0 Couple of other points raised in blogs: 1. I dont think it is wrong to show windows like theme in the exhibition.= =A0 2. One blogger try to ridicule free software=A0activists=A0as fanatics.=A0A= nother blogger finds fault in stating that free software is a social moveme= nt.=A0 Warm regards Arun _______________________________________________ Fsf-friends mailing listFsf-friends@mm.gnu.org.inhttp://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-friends =0A=0A=0A <http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-friends=0A=0A=0A> --0-1472797888-1229268676=:5536 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV>Dear Friends,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Why did not the organiser release the code of conduct that inculde prohibiting the use of properity software in the venue when a participant apply to conduct their program? When the organisers failed to issue such whip during the stage of organising and what is the point in expecting the audience to raise this issue at the venue. Most of the time the audience are passive and it seldom be spontaneous unless it is organised. I expect the FSF india should issue a statement in thier website explaining their position on this issue and should not hesitate to come forward with an apology.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Vijayan<BR><BR>--- On <B>Sat, 12/13/08, Arun M <I><arun(a)gnu.org.in <lt%3Barun(a)gnu.org.in>></I></B> wrote:<BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From: Arun M <arun(a)gnu.org.in <lt%3Barun(a)gnu.org.in>><BR>Subject: [Fsf-friends] Use of Windows by some speakers<BR>To: fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in<BR>Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008, 8:22 AM<BR><BR> <DIV id=yiv568324305>Dear Friends, <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV> Thanks for pointing out that some of the speakers used proprietary software in FSFS conference. It is a serious mistake and </DIV> <DIV>I will be taking this up in organising committee of the conference to ensure that this mistake is not repeated. </DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>I talked to the person in charge of the technical track and he said two or three speakers in technical track used proprietary operating system. </DIV> <DIV>It seems that they had their development environment setup in their laptops with proprietary OS hence wanted to use their laptop.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Unfortunately no one pointed out this at the venue. Otherwise we could have corrected there itself. Most of the free software activists</DIV> <DIV>were spending their time in Policy track and exhibition. </DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>In the policy track, participants objected to speakers when they took position which was not acceptable to free software </DIV> <DIV>community. </DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>I request my friends to raise voices when ever you see these kinds of mistakes. By raising your voice and protesting, </DIV> <DIV>we will be able to better educate others. Mistakes can be an opportunity for education. </DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Couple of other points raised in blogs:</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>1. I dont think it is wrong to show windows like theme in the exhibition. </DIV> <DIV>2. One blogger try to ridicule free software activists as fanatics. Another blogger finds fault in stating that free software is a social movement. </DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Warm regards</DIV> <DIV>Arun</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV></DIV><PRE>_______________________________________________ Fsf-friends mailing listFsf-friends@mm.gnu.org.inhttp://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-friends </PRE></BLOCKQUOTE></td></tr></table><br> --0-1472797888-1229268676=:5536-- -- Thanks & Regards Siddhartha Malempati _______________________________________ "Fighting patents one by one will never eliminate the danger of software patents, any more than swatting mosquitoes will eliminate malaria."

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Fwd: [IndiChix] Free Computer Technology Convention in Kolkata
by Anivar Aravind 18 Dec '08

18 Dec '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mani A <a.mani.cms(a)gmail.com> Date: Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 8:32 PM Subject: [IndiChix] Free Computer Technology Convention in Kolkata To: LinuxChix-India <indichix(a)linuxchix.org> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 IOTA will organize a convention from 26th to 28th December 2008. The objectives of this convention are to create awareness on FOSS in the state, inform people about its suitability for sustainable development of the country, interact with the policymakers and other sister organizations for its adoption and come up with a road-map for the institute's activity. An exhibition will also be organized along with the convention. In recent times researchers, professionals, developers and activists in different prestigious academic and research institutions in the world, as well as in several companies in India and abroad have actively become involved with development and adoption of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and Open Hardware. This convention will act as a unique catalyst to accelerate the endeavor and ensure involvement of academia, government departments and companies in the promotional activities of FOSS-based systems and applications. The organizing committee is taking steps to ensure good participation, both in terms of quantity and quality, through * A strong technical program * Panel discussions * Industry Forum The convention will be attended by academicians, business leaders, researchers and designers from all over India. Invited speakers from all over India and abroad will present their thoughts, experiences and research results. Registration has been Extended (Beyond 18th Dec): http://www.iotawb.org/fctprog.html Best A. Mani -- A. Mani Member, Cal. Math. Soc -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFJSmf7oIK4BlImohYRArn4AJwMRUdk1ZInr6wb7qO27jBle4XoOACgnx+S iEQys2GZ9xNOlIi21+eqZ38= =nS1U -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- _______________________________________________ IndiChix mailing list IndiChix(a)linuxchix.org http://mailman.linuxchix.org/mailman/listinfo/indichix -- Any responsible politician should be encouraging a home grown Free Software industry because it creates the basis for future jobs. Learning Windows is like learning to eat every meal at McDonalds.

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List of 'Non GPLv3' softwares in gnu.org
by Maxin John 18 Dec '08

18 Dec '08

Hi, The below listed packages are some of the widely used GNU/Linux Free Softwares hosted in gnu.org. Package License URL ========================================================= bash gplv2 http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/ diffutils gplv2 http://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/ gdbm gplv2 http://www.gnu.org/software/gdbm/ libtool gplv2 http://www.gnu.org/software/libtool/ ncurses MIT http://www.gnu.org/software/ncurses/ time gplv2 ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/time/ bc gplv2 http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/bc/ dejagnu gplv2 http://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/ gperf gplv2 http://www.gnu.org/software/gperf/ make gplv2 http://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/make/ The common nature of these packages are: a) Free Softwares hosted in gnu.org b) All are non GPLv3 While we are fighting to make GNU/Linux kernel and other softwares to be under GPLv3, why we are forgetting these packages as these packages are hosted in gnu.org itself ? I think , it will be better for use to use a page in any of the open wikis to track these programs (the above given list is not complete) and complete the conversion to GPLv3 on a priority basis for these packages. Hmm.. I don't think we can do something to a package like ncurses which is distributed under MIT License. Thanks and Regards, Maxin B. John

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Fwd: [Gnash-dev] Fundraising for RTMP support
by Praveen A 18 Dec '08

18 Dec '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: strk <strk(a)keybit.net> Date: 2008/12/17 Subject: [Gnash-dev] Fundraising for RTMP support To: gnash(a)gnu.org, gnash-dev(a)gnu.org Hi all. This mail to inform you that Linux Fund has started fundraising for a project adding RTMP support to Gnash. For more info and donations: http://linuxfund.org/projects/gnash/ Thanks for partecipating :) --strk; GIS & Flash consultant/developer () ASCII Ribbon Campaign http://foo.keybit.net/~strk/services.html /\ Keep it simple! _______________________________________________ Gnash-dev mailing list Gnash-dev(a)gnu.org http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnash-dev -- പ്രവീണ്‍ അരിമ്പ്രത്തൊടിയില്‍ <GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call! <DRM> What use is a phone call, if you are unable to speak? (as seen on /.) Join The DRM Elimination Crew Now! http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Anti-DRM-Campaign

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visit to Ambetkar Centre
by Nagarjuna G 18 Dec '08

18 Dec '08

I enjoyed the visit to the center on 14th. This center can set a good example of how free ICT can open up several new options. Making such a center sustainable and soon replicate that in several other places in the country is our challenge. one of the immediate things that can be done is to create an album of paintings and create a book at lulu.com and market it internationally. That may generate some revenue, which can be used in turn to create more such centers. Do check if the center can become a digital wikibazaar/mart by providing some services to the neighborhood. Does having such centers in rural and sub-urban areas possible? Can we use this center as a breeding center for others? there are several such questions I have in my mind. As long as we do this with 100% transparency, these centers can demonstrate to the rest of the world how to run a p2p trade with social development and involvement. -- Nagarjuna G http://www.gnowledge.org

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Re: [Fsf-friends] [FSUG-Bangalore] visit to Ambetkar Centre
by Nagarjuna G 18 Dec '08

18 Dec '08

On Wed, 2008-12-17 at 15:45 +0530, Nidhin Sasi wrote: > Freeing knowledge would ofcourse increase the conscious of the > oppressed about their rights, but would that automatically give them > the basic rights? Most of the denial of their rights stems from the > fact that the resources are still captivated by a minority in the > society. Unless they fight for those rights, these rights would always > be alien for them though in the process though there might be progress > in their situation based on the intensity of different struggles. ICT > has revolutionised the world in such a way that human beings if have > access can attain most of the knowldge at their finger tips and also > establish communication with anyone in any part of the world. > But the denial of the basic rights would still cause them obstacles > even to freely pursue this available Free Knowledge. Though we see > them laughing, singing, playing in the daylight and among the crowd > each of them might have different difficult situations in their homes > which are mostly connected to their lack of accessibility of their > basic rights. > We can build good toilets and better infrastructure in their > locality if we go for fund drive, but would that give a solution to > their numeorus other problems they are facing ? Especially in a city > like Bangalore with high rates of inflation - what about the food > costs, health costs, transportation costs ? Most of the families at > the average 3 or 4 children or more, and I think AC3 kids are better > off than children in many other areas. > > Fighting without empowering oneself is not effective. Currently people do fight with external help from a political party or a social organization, and external leadership and continue to remain powerless even after struggles after struggles. Sustainable social change does not come without power in the local hands. They cannot claim power without knowledge. Nagarjuna

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Urgent requirement for free software supporters in Mysore
by renuka prasad 17 Dec '08

17 Dec '08

Hi all let me tell you the background first ------------------ ( RMS , please correct me if some things are wrong here ) Richard M Stallman met Mr Manivannan who is the Mysore district Collector and Distric magistrate , We got a very good response from Mr Manivannan . He has shown interest ( serious ) in shifting all those systems that are running proprietary softwares. But he insisted very much on the list of all those people who are based in mysore and can support the free softwares ( currently the support level is may be hand holding , and may be even customizing the installation according to the thier need and as well train the people who will be using them. Now the strategy about how to take forward will have to be discussed and according to the guidelines of free software foudation -india this will have to be taken up. Dr Nagarjuna could you please give us some guidelines so that things will be clear to all those who want to be part of this. Any organization , individual who can support has to be present in front of Mr Manivannan on the day we meet him ( after fixing an appointment ) . please pass on the message to your known ones ( if they are not on this list , get the details and update here ) and who ever replies will have a chance to serve and hepl in taking forward the free software movement. Regarding monetary benifits , i have no idea-- probbaly all those will be told or discussed by Mr Manivannan when all the people meet there Initiatlly i will be going to mysore for one or two days ( dates not yet fixed )- any one from FSUG-bangalore wants to join reply here and then we meet people in mysore and see that they will take on the things further ( it is not that we are the one who are guiding -- it is that we are just in touch with Mr Manivannan and then after introducing the people from mysore ---our job to some extent is done .. rest they can take care .. Suggest the best ways in which this information has to be communicated to all those people who are in mysore who are free software enthusiasts / supporters / developers who can help in this regard once it is sure that information is passed on to to all , those who have shown interest will be meeting with Mr Manivannan and the things will later be explained during the meting. Mr manivannan is very clear that the supporters should be based in in and around myosre .. consider this a sn urgent requirement and lets meet as soon as possible if people have some ideas about how this could be taken forward can please suggest -- Renuka Prasad B Lecturer, Department of M.C.A R.V.College of Engineering Bangalore 560059 9901945674

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some deccan herald coverage of rms visit
by Senthil Sundaram (sensunda) 17 Dec '08

17 Dec '08

hi, http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Dec172008/cyberspace20081216107137.a sp http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Dec172008/state20081217107186.asp -s

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Re: [Fsf-friends] [MyLUG #599] [Fwd: Urgent requirement for free software supporters in Mysore]
by Shashishekhar S 17 Dec '08

17 Dec '08

Hello all, > Richard M Stallman met Mr Manivannan who is the Mysore district Collector > and Distric magistrate , We got a very good response from Mr > Manivannan . He > has shown interest ( serious ) in shifting all those systems that are > running proprietary softwares. That is a very interesting development. > > But he insisted very much on the list of all those people who are based in > mysore and can support the free softwares ( currently the support level is > may be hand holding , and may be even customizing the installation > according > to the thier need and as well train the people who will be using them. Now > the strategy about how to take forward will have to be discussed and > according to the guidelines of free software foudation -india this > will have > to be taken up. I shall be able to help with this -- marshalling resources and people (there are quite a few, but have to be motivated :-p) > > Dr Nagarjuna could you please give us some guidelines so that things will > be clear to all those who want to be part of this. Is there any prior experience -- in terms of deploying free software for government organizations -- elsewhere? > > Any organization , individual who can support has to be present in > front of > Mr Manivannan on the day we meet him ( after fixing an appointment ) . > please pass on the message to your known ones ( if they are not on this > list , get the details and update here ) and who ever replies will have a > chance to serve and hepl in taking forward the free software movement. Do let me know about the appointment. > > is not that we are the one who are guiding -- it is that we are just in > touch with Mr Manivannan and then after introducing the people from mysore > - ---our job to some extent is done .. rest they can take care .. I sure hope so :-) > > Suggest the best ways in which this information has to be communicated to > all those people who are in mysore who are free software enthusiasts / > supporters / developers who can help in this regard > once it is sure that information is passed on to to all , those who have > shown interest will be meeting with Mr Manivannan and the things will > later > be explained during the meting. MyLUG has a good representation of people from the industry, academics and hobbyists as its members and hope everybody has seen this email and volunteer for the effort. Also, do let us know if there are any official FSF policies/processes for effecting these migrations. Thanks and Regards, -- Shashishekhar S

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report about RMS's visit to Ambedkar Community Computer Center in Bangalore
by sreejith g.s 17 Dec '08

17 Dec '08

Hi, RMS's visit to the Slum computing center: Ambedkar Community Computer Center is situated in a slum area in the New Gurupanplaya in Bannerghata road Bangalore. In the IT city of multinationals, it is only one of the slums in interiors of Bangalore that is not well known outside. On last saturday (13th December 2008) the slum had a unique visitor who is not only famous, but also considered to be well known among every part of the world as the founder of free software foundation. Richard M Stallman's visit turned the attention of IT professionals and media persons to the otherwise not well known slum. Ambedkar Community Computing Center (AC3) is a center set up in the slum area of Gurupan Palya by members of Sthree Jagruthi Samithi, volunteers from AID (Association of India's Development) and by some Free Software Volunteers working in IT industry. The idea of setting up the center was to equip the poor children in the nearby area with the basic computer skills using quality software which is available free of cost and shareable. The center uses free software tools on GNU/Linux to teach and impart computer knowledge to children. The effort is now showing results and the children have shown enormous improvement. One of the children, Mani, a 9th standard student, has created beautiful pictures using the Free Software tool "GIMP". His pictures got a huge response from the exhibition conducted during the Free Software National Conference held in Cochin, this November. Amazed by Mani's pictures, Stallman agreed to visit AC3 and interact with the children for a few minutes. During his visit, Richard Stallman inaugurated Mani's painting exhibition and released a book written by children on the basis of their experience in the slum computing center. Sarasu, who is from the slum area, teaching kids in the slum computing center presented about the center and the work it is doing for the poor. Richard Stallman made two corrections to the presentation. He emphasized that free software is not the alternative, but it is the right one. He also added that instead of a few success stories the presentation should say a great success story as the slum computing center is doing a great job. There were also cultural events from the inhabitants of the slum. After the events, RMS interacted with the audience who were from the nearby areas of slum computing center and addressed their questions. Here is an extract from Stallman's speech: * "I am honored to be here in the community computer center that is in the name of Dr BR Ambedkar. I have read about Ambedkar and I was inspired by the work he has done for the dalit people in India. There are many issues among the poor and marginalized in India that are more important than using free software. But, free software is one of the tool that helps the poor and dalit to resolve some of the issues they are facing. Poor can't afford proprietary softwares and free software helps them to access computers. While proprietary software companies are like the colonial rulers who exploited the masses, free software is freedom and liberation. Ambedkar Community Computer center is a model for the other parts of the India in such a way that it gives access to computers for the poor without compromising the freedom. The Ambedkar Community Center is doing a great job by empowering the poor with knowledge of free software."* It was a memorable experience for the people in slum area, the people who are part of the Ambedkar Community Computer Center and the children who are the students of the center. They were all inspired by the visit of the RMS to spread the free software message and also taking the center to next level. Sreejith

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Ogg album in the Month of Music
by Sri Ramadoss M 17 Dec '08

17 Dec '08

Any budding Musician you know? Tamilnadu is witnessing yet another season of Music in the month of Margazhi.. Any one in this profession? Can someone help bringing out an Ogg Album.. It can be the traditional Tiruppavai & Tiruvembavai or Light Music or Gramiya Music or Thaalattu etc., Or Some poet can even compose a Tamil Song for Free Software.. How long are we going to rest on Videos of Redhat and FSF for Campaigning.. Any one to join? http://www.fsf.org/resources/formats/playogg -- Regards, Sri Ramadoss M

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On RMS talk at Christ University
by Vikram Vincent 16 Dec '08

16 Dec '08

RMS talk at CU was well received by the 650-700 students, teachers and Management who participated in the talk. The students were from various streams such as business studies, computer science, law, social sciences and others. The Eben Moglen talk too had a similar participation. The preparation for both programs was intense with discussions being held - from desk to desk, class to class, teacher to teacher. We now have an even more dedicated Free_Software-Eben_Moglen-Richard_Stallman team of students. Both talks were recorded and will be uploaded shortly. -- Vikram Vincent +919448810822 http://swatantra.org/

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Re: [Fsf-friends] Use of Windows by some speakers
by A Kannan. (CUSAT) 16 Dec '08

16 Dec '08

Dear Rakesh, You don't know the real mafia that runs fee software from Trivandrum. They want to eat up all the money from government coffers. They will do the same project any number of times. Look at space, apts or any free software initiative that we have in kerala. They are for sucking government money. Take the case of Malayalam localization. These guys did this When fund got exhausted they shifted to Space. They will come out with another initiative when the government changes. If the government had entrusted localization to a commercial software company , after inviting tenders and with a condition that the code developed is GPL , the task might have been over in a very short time. The localisation will go on for ever and malayalam will eventually die. The Cochin event was well engineered so that the Mafia get a martyr image. They got maximum publicity. Several old listers will remember how some of the board members sneaked into the board overnight. All FSF board members from Kerala form a gang ( I dont know about others) . Have a look at this page. http://www.gnu.org.in/about-fsf-india/whos-who And then examine the real contribution of kerala members on technology front. It will be a big zero. FSF India should publish detials of its board memebers ,working group members and clearly state what free software project each one is associated with. ( I can even see people with just email ids alone like kg(at)tug.org.in ) I think there are several listers around who recognises the gang. Now that they are caught red handed , they are trying to be diplomatic and offering soaps to the original blogger to douse the fire. (See lug TVM mail list) It seems Sunil will get kick behind his back very soon. Kannan PS Just read the list of people protested as posted by Arun. The very people who ran the Trivandrum show. They are seen at film festival cultural events Computer Society of India ,IEEE, ABCD XYZ etc. You start a new forum they will hijack it in due course. --- On Mon, 12/15/08, Rakesh രാകേഷ് <rakeshklr(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Rakesh രാകേഷ് <rakeshklr(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Fsf-friends] Use of Windows by some speakers To: "Arun M" <arun(a)gnu.org.in> Cc: fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in Date: Monday, December 15, 2008, 9:32 AM Dear Arun, Just a single question... Mistake is mistake and it has to be corrected. It would have been nice if you had joined as a volunteer for the conference. We were just a hand full of people who were doing most of the work at the end of the day. All the committees and officials did not do the sweat job. And it is a fact that technical track was on our lowest priority. Why didnt you have the same feeling when you initiated the bloody drama in the name of Novell protest at Cochin conference...????? A hand full of students and teachers were working hard day and night to make the Cochin event a great success... No one like you were there to help them... And at the end of the day, you tried your level best to demoralize them.... At least start thinking in the right direction, for the best of the free software community if you still do not have some other concerns... Rakesh On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 12:55 AM, Arun M <arun(a)gnu.org.in> wrote: Dear Sunil, Mistake is mistake and it has to be corrected. It would have been nice if you had joined as a volunteer for the conference. We were just a hand full of people who were doing most of the work at the end of the day. All the committees and officials did not do the sweat job. And it is a fact that technical track was on our lowest priority. Out of around 16 technical session only one came out to be wrong decisions. Out of nearly 50 panelist who participated in policy session, no one found any major policy issues. In the exhibition area only issue that was found is one person having a windows laptop in SBT stall. State Bank of Travencore was a sponsor for the event and they were given a stall. They were distributing their publicity materials. One of their staff was having a windows based laptop. Having windows like theme is not a wrong thing IMHO. Some one asked about streaming technology used. It is giss.tv and as far as we know it is based on free software and ogg format. Video conferencing was with Ekiga. with warm regards arun. On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 12:36 AM, Sunil Thomas Thonikuzhiyil <vu2swx(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi, > > It is interesting to see that partly proprietary java fx got in. > I am not asking for the details of tech committee. > > Sunil > > On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 12:33 AM, Arun M <arun(a)gnu.org.in> wrote: >> >> > Was there any peer review in selecting topics . Or was it done >> > arbitrarily. >> > >> > Do you have any clue to it. >> >> There was a program committee for technical presentations. >> >> regards >> arun > > > > _______________________________________________ Fsf-friends mailing list Fsf-friends(a)mm.gnu.org.in http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-friends -- Rakesh _______________________________________________ Fsf-friends mailing list Fsf-friends(a)mm.gnu.org.in http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-friends

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Re: [Fsf-friends] Use of Windows by some speakers
by Manilal K M 16 Dec '08

16 Dec '08

Sorry, I missed the fsf-friends address. 2008/12/16 Manilal K M <libregeek(a)gmail.com>: > 2008/12/15 A Kannan. (CUSAT) <forukannan(a)yahoo.com>: > >> >> If the government had entrusted localization to a commercial software >> company , after inviting tenders and with a condition that the code >> developed is GPL , the task might have been over in a very short time. > > Government has done this many times before. > Some examples: > FRIENDS Computerisation(C-DIT) > KSEB Computerisation (M$ allies) > and fortunately all ended in courts wasting public money. > >> The localisation will go on for ever and malayalam will eventually die. > Yes, the localisation will go for ever, as long as we have new > programs and applications . But I don't think that language will die > due to the localisation process. May be you have misunderstood the > what localisation means. > > -- > Manilal K M : മണിലാല്‍ കെ എം. > http://libregeek.blogspot.com >

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Re: [Fsf-friends] Use of Windows by some speakers
by Maxin John 16 Dec '08

16 Dec '08

Hi Kannan, Your 'revelation' is indeed very amusing. This simply shows your arrogance and ignorance about the Free Software movement. People are free to join a project and move out of it at their own will. That's based on money or something else, depends on their 'Freedom of choice'. Though you have the 'Freedom to criticize' the Swathanthra Malayalam Computing(SMC) for their invaluable contributions to Malayalam localization (they deserve these blames for doing a lot of good to Malayalam language for nothing ! ), try to understand what they are doing and if possible contribute something to your language. Regards, Maxin B. John On Tue, 16 Dec 2008 Anivar Aravind wrote : >On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 11:09 PM, A Kannan. (CUSAT) ><forukannan(a)yahoo.com> wrote: ><snip> > > Take the case of Malayalam localization. These guys did this When fund got > > exhausted they shifted to Space. They will come out with another initiative > > when the government changes. ></snip> > >Dear Kannan, > >I dont know about your mafia theory . But Why you are taking the >credit of malayalam Localization from Free Software Community in >Kerala. Swathanthra Malayalam Computing Initiated by Baiju M in 2001 >did most of the Localisation of GNU/Linux desktops. In between some >projects like Keltron project you pointed & UNDP supported Project >through K-BIP also contributed to Localisation of GNU/Linux desktops. >Still Swathanthra Malayalam Computing(SMC) is the biggest Free >software developer Community in Kerala, with representations from all >sectors of society. SMC is completly working in a peer model and not >accepted any money yet from any agency for its work. Your Ignorance >about Free Software Community initiatives is ok.. But dont attribute >the work of free software community to Govt agencies & NGOs > > > > > > If the government had entrusted localization to a commercial software > > company , after inviting tenders and with a condition that the code > > developed is GPL , the task might have been over in a very short time. > > The localisation will go on for ever and malayalam will eventually die. > >Ho.. Tenders for Localisation with a condition "code developed is GPL" > >Great!! > >All Free Software Projects are not in same license. If there is >tender like this. malayalam localisation may be died long back. >And Localisation is not a Fixed time task to be completed on time. >There is no finishing point for localisation work. Localisation is a >continuous cultural process. Those who are in a project/money mode >thinking cant understand it. > >Do you know malayalam is officially supported now in Gnome (2.16 >onwards) and in KDE(4.1 onwards) >At least 2 distros (Debian and Fedora) can be fully installable in Malayalam now >SMC is popularised the user to producer model of free software in kerala > >Ignorance is fine. But dont make it as a Power to tarnish the work of >Free Software Communities > > >Anivar Aravind >_______________________________________________ >Fsf-friends mailing list >Fsf-friends(a)mm.gnu.org.in >http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-friends

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Bringing localisation to proper perspective(Was:Re: Use of Windows by some speakers)
by Vikram Vincent 16 Dec '08

16 Dec '08

Hello, 2008/12/15 A Kannan. (CUSAT) <forukannan(a)yahoo.com>: <snip> Take the case of Malayalam localization. These guys did this<http://keltron.co.in/malayalam/> When fund got > exhausted they shifted to Space. They will come out with another <snip> To be bring the localisation issue to proper perspective I think that this mail thread will clarify some issues http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-i18n/2008-September/msg00035.html Work has now been initiated to port the po files and send them upstream where ever possible and required. Vikram Vincent

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Use of Windows by some speakers
by Arun M 15 Dec '08

15 Dec '08

Dear Friends, Thanks for pointing out that some of the speakers used proprietary software in FSFS conference. It is a serious mistake and I will be taking this up in organising committee of the conference to ensure that this mistake is not repeated. I talked to the person in charge of the technical track and he said two or three speakers in technical track used proprietary operating system. It seems that they had their development environment setup in their laptops with proprietary OS hence wanted to use their laptop. Unfortunately no one pointed out this at the venue. Otherwise we could have corrected there itself. Most of the free software activists were spending their time in Policy track and exhibition. In the policy track, participants objected to speakers when they took position which was not acceptable to free software community. I request my friends to raise voices when ever you see these kinds of mistakes. By raising your voice and protesting, we will be able to better educate others. Mistakes can be an opportunity for education. Couple of other points raised in blogs: 1. I dont think it is wrong to show windows like theme in the exhibition. 2. One blogger try to ridicule free software activists as fanatics. Another blogger finds fault in stating that free software is a social movement. Warm regards Arun

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Re: [Fsf-friends] Use of Windows by some speakers
by Anoop Jacob Thomas 15 Dec '08

15 Dec '08

Well Novell Issue is something very serious. And I dont think that the way the volunteers reacted was bad. And the fact being Novell was a main sponsor of the event and it was hidden. At FSFS something happened from the side of speakers who are employees of SUN and who don't know what is Free Software, there are just techies/employees. Who just work according to SUN's directives for salary. They came for the technology track and those who came for the policy track(who actually knew what free software is) didnt use windows or any proprietary systems. And at the exhibition it was the SBT stall which used vista, and they are also employees of SBT who dont know anything about technology or free software. They came there to collect data/queries from customers. And in the FSUG-Trivandrum stall it was only the theme. And it was done to demonstrate how customizable the whole system is. To make a layman understand that this is not an alien system. And I think positive steps should be taken to correct these mistakes. Strict directives should be given as policy not to use Proprietary Softwares. -- Anoop Jacob Thomas -- Anoop Jacob Thomas

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Talk by Richard Stallman at Christ University
by Vikram Vincent 15 Dec '08

15 Dec '08

Talk by Dr. Richard Stallman, President of Free Software Foundation Topic:"Role of free knowledge and free software in education and research" Date:16th(Tuesday) December 2008 Time:10AM-12:30PM Venue: Main auditorium, Christ University http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman The sessions are open to all. For more details contact me via mail vikram.vincent(a)christuniversity.in or +919448810822

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Free Software, Free Media
by Arun M 15 Dec '08

15 Dec '08

Dear All, Next free software event. Some of us are trying to organise a workshop on free software for film production on 18th as part of IFFK. If everyting goes well, soon we may hear the news of a major film studio in India migrating to free software. Content of the workshop is as below. FREE SOFTWARE - REVOLUTION IN FILM MAKING 1) Impact of digital technology in cinema 2) Inavilability of technology for the low budjet/zero budjet film makers 3) Free software - A comparison 4) Free software - explosion in film making Need volunteers for event promotion, organisations, poster design etc... First task, a small write up for the IFFK newsletter. with warm regards arun.

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where were the 'poster boys'
by haynes davis 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

The anger in the use of proprietary software fsfs.in is open now. But I am wondering where were the 'poster boys' who were very active in Kochi conference? Why were 'whole sale' dealers of freedom silent? The people who alleged cpim-hijack were busy organising fsfs.in that they could not see any hijack attempt in Trivandrum. Why did these people want to disrupt and ridicule the kochi conference? Now these people dont have any shame in using the power of cpim and government to promote themselves. The credibility of free software movement is in danger due to these people. fsf-i board does not need freedom in the fsf-i. They dont need power. But i accuse the board of using the free software movement for attaining power. And that too at the expense of cpim. Still these people are not ashamed of promoting cpim-hijack theory. The personal greed for power and pejudice of these people are not doing good to the free software movement. Haynes.

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Re: [Fsf-friends] Events
by A Kannan. (CUSAT) 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

Hi Listers I got the attaced mail in Private . So posting it for the sake of Clarity. @ Sasikumar Why you sent me a private mail instead of replying on the list.. I have no reason for liking or disliking you Junior Stallman. I guess I raised some valid points. You are evading the original issue. I have seen your post on lug TVM also . You are trying to save face right from the beginning by calling the guy who wrote the mail as troll. Come on and give us a clear policy statement from FSF India. Excuse me if I exceed the limit. These kind of guys live by making sermons and writing articles which is often cut and paste. Kannan --- On Sun, 12/14/08, V. Sasi Kumar <sasi.fsf(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: V. Sasi Kumar <sasi.fsf(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Fsf-friends] Events To: forukannan(a)yahoo.com Date: Sunday, December 14, 2008, 2:51 AM I did not think that I gave any advice to anyone. If I remember right, I suggested that we could put up the information on the FSF website. If making a suggestion is wrong, please say what you think people should do. I am not Jesus Christ or a priest to deliver any sermon. I am not the practitioner of any religion. If you dislike me for some reason (though I don't understand why, considering I don't know you), please don't bring it to this list. Best regards Sasi On Sun, 2008-12-14 at 00:18 -0800, A Kannan. (CUSAT) wrote: > > Cool. But this is belated wisdom. > I thought fsf was a sponsor/supporting organization for the just > concluded conference. I can see you on > http://fsfs.in/schedule/events/16.en.html > Why didn't you practice this advice. > Very typical behavior that we can expect . > Before you deliver a sermon, at least practice the religion for a > week > Kannan > CUSAT > -- V. Sasi Kumar Free Software Foundation of India http://swatantryam.blogspot.com

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Prof. Eben Moglen @ Kannada Bloggers' event on Saturday
by jaykumar hs 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

Hi, Prof. Eben Moglen spoke on "Free Software in New Media" at IAT hall, QUeens Road, Bangalore on Saturday, 13th Dec. The audience were mostly Kannada bloggers and techies, about 80 in numbers. HP Nadig, Founder, Sampada.net also addressed the audience. The event was reported in Kannada daily Prajavani. Jaykumar

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Events
by V. Sasi Kumar 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

When a Free Software event is planned anywhere, it would be good if a write-up is sent to the list. We can put it up on the gnu.org.in website. If there is a website for the event, just pointing to it would be good enough. After an event, it would be good if someone can write a report and post it so that it can also be put on the website. In the long run, this will help us to see all the events that took place over a period of time and also evaluate our work. Any event that conforms with the ideals of Free Software can be included. Best -- V. Sasi Kumar Free Software Foundation of India http://swatantryam.blogspot.com

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Yavarkkumana Menporul Iyakkam/ Arakkattalai..
by Sri Ramadoss M 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

Friends, Glad to share with you all that, We are in process of setting up a Movement/ Foundation for taking care of the needs of Tamil Computing together with Free Software & its principles named 'Yavarkkumana Menporul Arakkattalai/ Iyakkam' (can be interpreted as 'Movement/ Foundation for Software Made for Everyone'). Few work has already gone into in terms of Translations, Workshops etc., Yavarkkum is "for everyone". (The word has its root in Puranaanooru & Tirumanthiram, two ancient Tamil works) This has resulted after initial round of Events, Meetings and discussions happened months before at NRCFOSS, Chennai. Srinivasan, Bharathi, Arun and myself holds the responsibility now. We will be working with other communities across the nation on common issues but with special emphasis on TamilNadu & Tamil. Original announcement: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/pipermail/ilugc/2008-December/045070.html -- Regards, Sri Ramadoss M

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RMS and two book releases in bangalore / Eben in blr
by Senthil Sundaram (sensunda) 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

Dear All, I think yesterday was a very good day for free software in blr. Multiple events happening at different places. There was a total of two public events by RMS with 2 book releases : FSFS book in kannada and the story of the slum computing center book written by folks from the slum community. I request somebody to write about their NLS experience which I heard was very interesting and the Kannada Bloggers event...which discussed the aspect of new media. There were two talks by Eben - one with Kannada Bloggers with HP Nadig , Kannada Wikipedia and one at the National Law school. All this has a lot of long term oppurtunities for the movement. However what I think is important is the value of the questions . It was very interesting experience when RMS answered the questions of folks from the slum computing center - AC3 - Ambedkar Computing Center . He also released the book 'The Future is Ours' RMS had a very clear understanding of dalit politics and Ambedkar in our context. He explained how free software fits in this context. Will post the questions and anwers separately. thanks senthil

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More from fsfs.in
by cherian aby 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

Even die hard fans cannot live with out win :D http://www.flickr.com/photos/33286987@N04/3102771534/ Aby

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Property is theft - in the domain of zero marginal costs
by Senthil Sundaram (sensunda) 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

Dear All, Prof Eben talked about 'software as a public good' today at IIM-B. There were some real questions on how the very basics of property is being questioned. Prof Eben brought a smile in the faces of all the business school guys - with real examples - of how this is happening world over.. Thankful to Prof Rahul Dey for arranging this talk at IIM today. Will try and see if a transcript/video can be uploaded. thanks senthil

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Windows in conference
by Yaanilan EP 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

Hi, I think the organizers might have thought that it is their FREEDOM(?!?) to use windows in the conference. So please go and read free software philosophies immediately. If u want to advice others not to drink alcohol, then first you should not drink alcohol. If u already drinking alcohol and advising others not to drink the same, then who will listen to ur words? And also this will spoil all the efforts of other GOOD ADVISERS If u r a die-hard fan of those proprietary softwares, then please stay away from all free software activities..........dont spoil the free software philosophies any more Regds, Yaanilan

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Fwd: The Kerala experience
by Arun M 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Stefan Merten <smerten(a)oekonux.de> Date: Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 8:39 PM Subject: The Kerala experience To: list-en(a)oekonux.org Cc: Stefan Merten <smerten(a)oekonux.de>, Arun M <arun(a)keralaitmission.org>, Yuwei Lin <yuwei(a)ylin.org> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi list! I'm just on the way back home from this great conference which took place in Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerala / India. I must say I'm really deeply impressed. I would wish that Free Software *including* things like Oekonux says would have that backing in Germany / Europe / industrialized countries! Right now while we are struggling hard to find funding for our 4th conference I came to a place where the best hotel in town has been made not only the place for the conference but also gave a great temporary home for some of the speakers. That's all possible because the state of Kerala employs an impressingly firm and decided Free Software strategy. Therefore obviously the government is ready to pay for such a conference including lunch and tea breaks and dinners... And not only this. The Chief Minister of the State of Kerala were present during the inaugural session and addressed the audience and emphasized the necessity of Free Software and other Free knowledge resources. During the final session the chief of the opposition were present. And if I then think of the press coverage this conference got in some standard news papers. It is really amazing! But not only the conference got news coverage. In the Sunday paper - i.e. before the conference and not related to it - there were also an article about a Free Dictionary for North-East Indian languages. They really mean it! The conference itself was really two conferences in one. There were a technology track and a policy/culture track - though culture were not really there. I don't know for sure but I think the conference participants also split between these two tracks. I for one attended none of the technology presentations. There were also 450+ registered participants - so it was really a rather big event. During personal conversations I learned that in Kerala many are interested in not only the technology but also in the possible philosophical / societal meeting. But what really amazed me most that the things Oekonux started to talk about nearly 10 years ago at least in Kerala slowly become an accepted idea. The potential of peer production is seen by many - though I still think what we do here is quite elaborated in this regard. In fact the talk I gave (see http://www.oekonux.org/texts/YesWeCanYesWeWill.html - which is heavily revised compared to the version I sent here) was welcomed by a couple of people afterwards. I really would conclude that much of the potential of the whole peer production movement meanwhile moved to places like Kerala. This opinion I share for instance with Juan-Carlos (Hipatia) who also names South America here. I even thought that Thiruvananthapuram could be a place for the 5th Oekonux Conference. May be in the form of some partnership... What also surprised me that the conference was attended by a relatively high share of women. I took a few samples and would guess about 25%. And in sharp contrast to the majority of women I see on German Free Software conferences these women were not the female part of a couple. However, the gender distribution of the speakers was as usual. Of course there were a couple of interesting speakers including Eben Moglen, Richard Stallman, Jimmy Wales, Neville Roy Singham (ThoughtWorks). Michel Bauwens and Adam Arvidsson gave talks, too. For me the best of all talks were the keynote of Eben Moglen. I'll give some key aspects of it below. First I'd like to share two things: * Custom software is not proprietary software Richard Stallman said that custom software - i.e. software written for a fixed customer with no plans to publish it, often created in-house - is not proprietary software. The reason is that it is not published. I found this separation quite interesting. It also reminds me of the discussions we had about the (exchange) value of software. Graham? StefanMz? * What about Oekonux when there is still 50% agriculture? I mean that is not really a new question but in India it was impossible to ignore: What does Oekonux theory has to say for a country where more than 50% are still doing agriculture and even a still quite high level of subsistence economy. Good question indeed. What I understood from the talks given is that at the moment Free Software helps people to create a more transparent market - for instance by knowing the price of a certain agricultural product in the neighbor city. Well, I'd agree that in a situation like Kerala Free Software is probably better suited to do the job but then this is only a modernization step on the way to integrate in capitalism better. Now for the mentioned keynote by Eben Moglen. I took some notes I happily share below. Words are often by me. Those parts `marked up` with backticks are quotes. Grüße Stefan === 8< === 8< === 8< === 8< === 8< === 8< === 8< === 8< === 8< === 8< === Keynote by Eben Moglen ====================== * Freedom in computing => freedom in society * Idea of Richard Stallman * Computers are ubiquitous * Computers "control" our lives * Thus it's crucial that we are able to control them * Sharing is crucial to humans * E-mail connected Eben to the world * `Internet is the name of a social condition` instead of a technology * Because connections are so important it is crucial that they run Free Software * `We want people never to be thirsty for things which are useful` * Make possible that everyone can develop according to her abilities * Success story of Wikipedia * British encyclopedia criticized for mistakes * But mistakes are fixed by everyone * Wikipedia reported about Virginia school shooting * Created recognition by even the New York Times * New York Times accepted that Wikipedia were better in this regard * Errors are no news to software * Best software on earth is the goal of Free Software * Free Software changed the world * There are differences in Free Software, encyclopedia, music, journalism * Important: Free Software proved that things can be done in Free mode * Revolution: * Knowledge is cheap * Knowledge no longer controlled by someone * And all by declaring freedoms * Not rules, and "ifs" * Only exception: If you take you have to share also * Meanwhile: Important for governments * Everywhere - but in USA * Barack Obama knows, that the net elected him * `Free government is impossible without Free Software` * `We are not only a community of freedom fighters - we are coming to power` * `We need to grow up` * Things are changing * Communities are crucial in 21st century * Products need community nowadays * We are changing the meaning of products, networks, ... * Still there are some limitations * Such as software patents * But we are powerful because of good ideas * Still there are limitations angering us * No longer enough to protest against these limitations * Now we need to find solutions for these limitations by inviting things * Make new Free offerings * In the past we had to apologize for "free as in beer" * `Free as in beer is not a bad thing in the next few years` because of financial crisis * Offering knowledge for zero price * Not a small achievement * Start of a new era * We are in power meanwhile * No single person in power * Rather the community is powerful * "Servant of the servants" (pope) is and should be our mode * That is why we are powerful * `Proof of concept plus running code - that's our revolution` * We have to think for the future of mankind * That is a heavy responsibility * If we mess up "they" will take over again and this historical opportunity will vanish * So we need to use power wisely * `We don't need to change what we believe [...] but we need to get smarter` * We need to welcome more brains to enter the movement * Generations struggled for this freedom * They failed and have been oppressed * Today we are almost there * `This time we win` Grüße Stefan -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Processed by Mailcrypt 3.5.7 <http://mailcrypt.sourceforge.net/> iQCVAwUBSUJ+nAnTZgC3zSk5AQKDRAP/YWuH5Ii2bo+JDkSSCF1JV0havIvQWT84 OnW7W4STSQz37QZtXmwaTaxHXmWqFs/GoNe8H/Q99gEoheiQrlrh7nX7jR3Dcs/h HLL/ABZiUe20PLnqHupso+hUQARNv1N/tHIt90DcSNzycnq5mIZiRTyypL9bKfxO 2PRkqbr9CP0= =j2Db -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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FSFS.IN and windows
by Mak ri 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

Hi Windows at fsfs.inhttp://brainstorms.in/?p=240 Rijo

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Ebens - IISC Event - timing - importance
by Senthil Sundaram (sensunda) 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

Hi, We had to do a lot of last minute stuff as IISc centenary celberations is on. We have the big guys coming the same day including : Assistant managing director of Microsoft Research India - speaks @ IISc - 11.30 a.m - 1.00 p.m, 14th Dec : India - A Knowledge Power: Opportunities and Challenges http://www.iisc.ernet.in/centenary-conf/kentaro.html <http://www.iisc.ernet.in/centenary-conf/kentaro.html> http://www.iisc.ernet.in/centenary-conf/program.shtml We have Choksi hall fixed at 5.p.m Sunday 14th. This got confirmed only last night. If we didnt get the hall we were planning to have a open air session with hand mike considering the importanct of the topic. We have Eben moglen - speaking on The Knowledge Power of the Community :: Danger of Patents 1) http://notoimp.wordpress.com/ - its important for civil society to debate the quote IP unquote policy of a institute of national importance 2) Its also important in the light of the national debate on software patents. thanks senthil * harish k singh Can you look at the article at http://osindia.blogspot.com/2008/11/global-patent-troll-comes-to-india.h tml. The patents subsidized by our belowed govt is now in the hands of these trolls. Maybe we need to address these issues when the meeting in IISc happens next month.Incidently, this company's major investor is none other than microsoft. See http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/12/080512fa_fact_gladwell?cur rentPage=1. * Rehat Venky "Software patents are an important issue in India right now because there is a heated debate over how to interpret Section 3(k) which says that, "A mathematical or business method or a computer programme per se or algorithms are not patentable." How "computer programme per se" is interpreted is of vital importance to the FOSS community. Therefore a talk by RMS on software patents would be relevant at this point in time and would help raise awareness of how patents prevent independent invention and restrict the freedom of software developers."

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Re: [Fsf-friends] FSFS.in Photoblog
by cherian aby 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

Hi Arky, I am not kidding. I stand by my allegation. As a photographer you must have at least 5 photos of the javafx session. Why dont you post the rest. I know your true color will come out if you do so. My suspicion of the cochin incident as engineered for publicity hardens. Free Cheers :D Aby --- On Fri, 12/12/08, Rakesh 'arky' Ambati <rakesh_ambati(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Rakesh 'arky' Ambati <rakesh_ambati(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Fsf-friends] FSFS.in Photoblog > To: fsf-friends(a)mm.gnu.org.in, abyhome(a)yahoo.com > Date: Friday, December 12, 2008, 2:48 PM > --- On Sat, 13/12/08, cherian aby <abyhome(a)yahoo.com> > wrote: > > > The photo blog is skill fully hiding the Java FX > fiasco > > reported at http://brainstorms.in/?p=240. > > Compare these two images. > > > > > http://brainstorms.in/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/121120082108.jpg > > > > > http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBN_dFzAuCo/SUDD1NoFYZI/AAAAAAAAA_s/4aqS6bdVGK0/s… > > ( image 5 on > > > http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/2008/12/fsfsin-2008-day-31.html > > ) > > The second image seems to have been manipulated. > > You must be kidding ! Where did you get any idea like that > ? > > > Cheers > > --arky > > Rakesh 'arky' Ambati > Blog [ http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com ] > > > > Connect with friends all over the world. Get Yahoo! > India Messenger at http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/?wm=n/

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FSFS.in Photoblog
by cherian aby 12 Dec '08

12 Dec '08

Hi, The photo blog is skill fully hiding the Java FX fiasco reported at http://brainstorms.in/?p=240. Compare these two images. http://brainstorms.in/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/121120082108.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBN_dFzAuCo/SUDD1NoFYZI/AAAAAAAAA_s/4aqS6bdVGK0/s… ( image 5 on http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/2008/12/fsfsin-2008-day-31.html ) The second image seems to have been manipulated. Arky why didn't you stand up and protest as in Cochin. It is a shame that you post a windows slide on your blog. Or was the cochin protest an engineered one. Aby > Message: 7 > Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:38:14 +0530 (IST) > From: Rakesh 'arky' Ambati > <rakesh_ambati(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [Fsf-friends] FSFS.in Photoblog :: All Posts > To: fsug-bangalore(a)mm.gnu.org.in, fsf-friends(a)mm.gnu.org.in > Message-ID: > <21779.58542.qm(a)web94914.mail.in2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > Hi, > > > Free Software Free Society Conference on Freedom in > Computing, Development and Culture (FSFS.in 2008 ):: Full > Roundup > > http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/2008/12/free-software-free-society-confe… > > Three years ago Anand Babu lent me his laptop to blog live > from Technopark, the venue for the First Free Software, Free > Society Conference in Kerala and I promised my blog readers > that I will do that same this time around. I wrote in a blog > post announcing the event you bet! I am gonna do that again > and I am happy that I have kept my word. > > For some technical reasons and largely due to my lazyiness > I ended doing photo blogging instead. I thought this would > be easier than sitting and writing posts on FSFS website. > How wrong I was!. I had corrected some content on that site > and had editor access. However I didn't find the Drupal > content interface very appealing. > > Anyway I was running all over the place ducking in and out > of conference halls and hankering people to pose for the > camera and interputing conversations with an unexpected > flash and then running back to media room on the first floor > where I had my laptop running hooked up to internet via a > lan cable (sorry, GPRS too costly!) and uploading the > pictures. And then I had sit late into night outside my > hotel room so that I get a better signal and use my datacard > to upload pictures taken in evening well past into midnight > like this post I am writing right now. > > I used my aging Nokia 70 running S60 (Shameless plug: yeah > its proprietary software, I don't like it either > don't flame me I am wearing my fireproof underwear > instead buy me some open hardware) with its 2.0 Megapixel > camera to take these pictures, the quality is aweful but I > guess its adds a aumeatuerish stock reel quality to the > pictures, which I like very much. Perhaps next time I could > afford to buy a Openmoko Neo runner and shoot (guess, the > next one will come with a camera) blog picture in real time > with WIFI hookup. > > Here is complete listing of the all live blog posts from > the Free Software Free Society Conference on Freedom in > Computing, Development and Culture in chronological order. > Its well past midnight and forgive me if I missed some of > the posts. > Pre-Event Post > > Free Software Free Society Conference 2008, Registrations > Open! > Day One > > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.0 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.1 Lunch > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.2 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.3 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.4 > > Day Two > > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.0 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.1 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.2 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.3 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.4 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.5 :: Freedom Expo > > Day Three > > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.0 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.1 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.2 (Videos) > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.3 > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.4 :: Fusion Music Cultural > Event > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.5 :: Openmoko Hack Session > * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.6 :: Long Hair Post > > Cheers > > --arky > > Rakesh 'arky' Ambati > Blog [ http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com ] > > > Be the first one to try the new Messenger 9 Beta! Go > to http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/win/ > > > > *******************************************

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FSFS.in Photoblog :: All Posts
by Rakesh 'arky' Ambati 12 Dec '08

12 Dec '08

Hi, Free Software Free Society Conference on Freedom in Computing, Development and Culture (FSFS.in 2008 ):: Full Roundup http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/2008/12/free-software-free-society-confe… Three years ago Anand Babu lent me his laptop to blog live from Technopark, the venue for the First Free Software, Free Society Conference in Kerala and I promised my blog readers that I will do that same this time around. I wrote in a blog post announcing the event you bet! I am gonna do that again and I am happy that I have kept my word. For some technical reasons and largely due to my lazyiness I ended doing photo blogging instead. I thought this would be easier than sitting and writing posts on FSFS website. How wrong I was!. I had corrected some content on that site and had editor access. However I didn't find the Drupal content interface very appealing. Anyway I was running all over the place ducking in and out of conference halls and hankering people to pose for the camera and interputing conversations with an unexpected flash and then running back to media room on the first floor where I had my laptop running hooked up to internet via a lan cable (sorry, GPRS too costly!) and uploading the pictures. And then I had sit late into night outside my hotel room so that I get a better signal and use my datacard to upload pictures taken in evening well past into midnight like this post I am writing right now. I used my aging Nokia 70 running S60 (Shameless plug: yeah its proprietary software, I don't like it either don't flame me I am wearing my fireproof underwear instead buy me some open hardware) with its 2.0 Megapixel camera to take these pictures, the quality is aweful but I guess its adds a aumeatuerish stock reel quality to the pictures, which I like very much. Perhaps next time I could afford to buy a Openmoko Neo runner and shoot (guess, the next one will come with a camera) blog picture in real time with WIFI hookup. Here is complete listing of the all live blog posts from the Free Software Free Society Conference on Freedom in Computing, Development and Culture in chronological order. Its well past midnight and forgive me if I missed some of the posts. Pre-Event Post Free Software Free Society Conference 2008, Registrations Open! Day One * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.0 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.1 Lunch * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.2 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.3 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.4 Day Two * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.0 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.1 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.2 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.3 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.4 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 2.5 :: Freedom Expo Day Three * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.0 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.1 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.2 (Videos) * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.3 * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.4 :: Fusion Music Cultural Event * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.5 :: Openmoko Hack Session * FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 3.6 :: Long Hair Post Cheers --arky Rakesh 'arky' Ambati Blog [ http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com ] Be the first one to try the new Messenger 9 Beta! Go to http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/win/

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FSFS.IN and windows
by cherian aby 12 Dec '08

12 Dec '08

Hi, I know this will provoke many. I was at the exhibition hall . It was a real waste of money. The venue was originally made for AITUC national conference. By the present Kerala standards the bill for AITUC event must go to free software account. Most of the government stalls were manned by known CPIM members who have no clue on free software. I also spotted a couple of windows machines. They spent a lot of money putting out cut outs and posters across the city. What is the use of all this waste to free software. As some one mentioned previously the free software movement in Kerala has been hijacked by CPIM and co. This event has proven it. The event was conducted in a typical communist manner. Good food for all comrades at Muscot and some free pass to party members. Free software is really free beer. :D Aby > From: Mak ri <makri2k(a)yahoo.com> > Date: Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 7:53 AM > Subject: [Fsf-friends] FSFS.IN and windows > To: fsf-friends(a)mm.gnu.org.in > > > Hi > Windows at fsfs.inhttp://brainstorms.in/?p=240 > Rijo >

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Eben Moglen at Christ University
by Vikram Vincent 12 Dec '08

12 Dec '08

Prof. Eben's talk at CU was well appreciated by the Management, staff and students of CU. Despite the almost one hour delay due to the flight and traffic there was a very good participation. A video recording of the program will be uploaded shortly. -- Vikram Vincent +919448810822 http://swatantra.org/

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debian software dependency to gnowledge dependencies
by Nagarjuna G 12 Dec '08

12 Dec '08

Several of us use Debian GNU/Linux and among other features we have all appreciated the way Debian software package dependencies are calculated to give us a stable package. At gnowledge.org we harvested the data from the packages.tgz file of Debian 4.0 and created a program that graphically displays the dependencies, called dependency maps. Search for your favorite package and see how dependent a software is on other packages. Few examples: http://www.gnowledge.org/debmap_view?objid=python http://www.gnowledge.org/debmap_view?objid=emacs21 Search for your favorite from: http://www.gnowledge.org/search_debmap?val=1 One of the main reasons why we are interested in Debian dependency maps is that we are inspired by that model and now wants to create a similar knowledge.tgz file for all concepts and activities as gnowledge.org is in the process of creating a gnowledge distribution. You will also be able to see how we are using the idea of Debian for knowledge domain. gnowledge.org is waiting for all of you to spread the message, specifically among the teachers of any subject whatsoever to add the dependency relations so that we can soon have a gnowledge (free knowledge distribution) distro. -- -- Nagarjuna G http://www.gnowledge.org

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Free Software Foundation Files Suit Against Cisco For GPL Violations
by Praveen A 11 Dec '08

11 Dec '08

http://www.fsf.org/news/2008-12-cisco-suit Interesting discussion at http://lwn.net/Articles/310899/ -- പ്രവീണ്‍ അരിമ്പ്രത്തൊടിയില്‍ <GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call! <DRM> What use is a phone call, if you are unable to speak? (as seen on /.) Join The DRM Elimination Crew Now! http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Anti-DRM-Campaign

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Eben Moglen schedule In Bangalore
by haynes davis 11 Dec '08

11 Dec '08

Eben Moglen visits Bangalore from 12th to 14th December. The schedule details are in http://bangalore.gnu.org.in/index.php/Events:Eben_Moglen_In_Bangalore Haynes.

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Paul McCartney Releases Album As DRM-Free Download
by Praveen A 10 Dec '08

10 Dec '08

http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/08/12/09/2313201.shtml -- പ്രവീണ്‍ അരിമ്പ്രത്തൊടിയില്‍ <GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call! <DRM> What use is a phone call, if you are unable to speak? (as seen on /.) Join The DRM Elimination Crew Now! http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Anti-DRM-Campaign

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Way Vision Journey - Swadeshi Jagran Manch - Talk on Free Software Experiences - 29-11-2008 - 6.30 PM - Chennai
by Sri Ramadoss M 10 Dec '08

10 Dec '08

Will be addressing a gathering on Free Software Movement & Tamil Computing Experiences as part of "Way Vision Journey" event organized by Swadeshi Jagran Manch to be held at, Conference Hall, II Floor, Ma Foi Management Consultants, Natarajan Bay City Centre, New No. 309 (Old No. 197) Poonamallee High Road, Chennai - 600 010 Near: Pachiappa's College Land Mark: Kapico Maruthi Showroom on 29.11.2008 Saturday at 18.30 Hrs. Detailed Invitation of SJM can be downloaded from http://amachu.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/sjm_way_vision_journey.pdf -- Regards, Sri Ramadoss M

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Photoblogging FSFS.in Event
by Rakesh 'arky' Ambati 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

Hi, Photo blogging live from Mascot Hotel, the venue of the Free Software Free Society Conference on Freedom in Computing, Development and Culture in Thiruvananthapuram. http://fsfs.in FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.1 Lunch http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/2008/12/fsfsin-2008-day-10.html FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.1 Lunch http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/2008/12/fsfsin-2008-day-11-lunch.html FSFS.in 2008 :: Day 1.2 http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/2008/12/fsfsin-2008-day-12.html Keep a tab on the RSS (http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default) feed, More posts to follow. Cheers --arky Rakesh 'arky' Ambati Blog [ http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com ] Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/

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Watch FSFS on your desktop online
by Praveen A 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

Eben is starting his talk right now http://fsfs.in/content/watch-out-conference-online-your-desktop -- പ്രവീണ്‍ അരിമ്പ്രത്തൊടിയില്‍ <GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call! <DRM> What use is a phone call, if you are unable to speak? (as seen on /.) Join The DRM Elimination Crew Now! http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Anti-DRM-Campaign

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Eben in Bangalore
by Senthil Sundaram (sensunda) 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

Hi, Eben Moglen in Bangalore : Debates on the system of ownership of Ideas with chirst university - iim - ieee - nls - iisc - kannada media . Dont miss it and kick yourself later ;) -S 12th December --------------- Chirst College - 12.00 p.m - The free software movement and the struggle for freedom of thought IIM-B with IEEE Bangalore Section - 3.00 p.m - "Software as a public good" 13th December ----------------- 11.30 am - National Law School with Center for Internet Society 5.00 p.m - Free Software and New Media...with MM Ismail ( senior journalist) and H P Nadig ( sampada ) Institute of Agricutltural technologists , Sanjeevani Road. http://kannadascience.blogspot.com/ http://avadhi.wordpress.com englsh invite : http://rmsebeninindia.wikispaces.com/file/view/free+ENGLISH.pdf 14th December ------------- IIsc - Danger of Patents - Could be a open air sesion http://notoimp.wordpress.com/ contact : jayakumar : 9448163453

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Watch the live feed from fsfs.in
by Vimal Joseph 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

Hi All, Those of you who couldn't make it to the FSFS.in event in Kerala can watch the live feed from the main hall policy track online. Just point your media player at http://giss.tv:8000/fsfs.ogg (or just click on the link http://giss.tv/interface/?mp=fsfs.ogg ) and watch out the stream of all the talks. Check the schedule for what's being heard right now, and don't miss the opportunity. http://giss.tv:8000/fsfs.ogg -- Free Software, Free Society സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര്‍, സ്വതന്ത്ര സമൂഹം <http://fsfs.in>

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Talks of RMS and Eben Moglen at Christ University
by Vikram Vincent 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

Prof. Eben Moglen, Professor of Law and Legal History at Columbia School of Law and Chairman of Software Freedom law Centre (SFLC). Date:12th(Friday) December 2008 Time:12Noon-1:30PM Venue: Main auditorium, Christ University Topic:"The free software movement and the struggle for freedom of thought" http://emoglen.law.columbia.edu/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Moglen Dr. Richard Stallman, President of Free Software Foundation Date:16th(Tuesday) December 2008 Time:10AM-12:30PM Venue: Main auditorium, Christ University Topic:"Role of free knowledge and free software in education and research" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman The sessions are open to all. For more details contact: Vikram Vincent mailto:vikram.vincent@christuniversity.in +919448810822

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Fwd: [Indlinux-group] how do non-open formats survive?
by Praveen A 08 Dec '08

08 Dec '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Vinod Kumar <rigvinod(a)gmail.com> Date: 2008/12/7 Subject: [Indlinux-group] how do non-open formats survive? To: Indian Linux group <indlinux-group(a)lists.sourceforge.net> With a little help from friends, I suppose. See the recent call for proposals from the Department of BioTechnology, Gov of India, for the Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP). "The companies should submit a concept note not exceeding 3 pages or a detailed proposal(5 copies+one soft copy[MS Word file and not a PDF file] through E.mail or CD) strictlt in the prescribed format available on the DBT website http://dbtindia.nic.in on or before 31st December..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SF.Net email is Sponsored by MIX09, March 18-20, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The future of the web can't happen without you. Join us at MIX09 to help pave the way to the Next Web now. Learn more and register at http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;208669438;13503038;i?http://2009.visitmix.com/ _______________________________________________ IndLinux-group mailing list IndLinux-group(a)lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/indlinux-group -- പ്രവീണ്‍ അരിമ്പ്രത്തൊടിയില്‍ <GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call! <DRM> What use is a phone call, if you are unable to speak? (as seen on /.) Join The DRM Elimination Crew Now! http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Anti-DRM-Campaign

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DCOS Agreement on Procurement in Support of Interoperability and Open Standards emerges at 3rd IGF, Hyderabad
by Anivar Aravind 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

6 December 2008 At the close of the final day of the 3rd Internet Governance Forum in Hyderabad, India, the Dynamic Coalition on Open Standards (DCOS) released an agreement entitled the "Dynamic Coalition on Open Standards (DCOS) Agreement on Procurement in Support of Interoperability and Open Standards." Under the procurement agreement, governments, publicly funded and non-profit institutions agree to promote interoperability and accessibility through the use of open standards. Anivar --------- Dynamic Coalition on Open Standards (DCOS) Agreement on Procurement in Support of Interoperability and Open Standards 3rd Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Hyderabad, India 6 December 2008 Preamble The Contracting Parties, *Recalling* the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Declaration of Principles which states that "[i]nternational standards aim to create an environment where consumers can access services worldwide regardless of underlying technology," *Recognizing* that standards are increasingly global concerns, involving goods and services that move in international trade across borders, *Aware* that current competition and legal remedies may not be enough to solve the inherent tensions that routinely arise in the realm of patents and standards, *Desirous* of encouraging procurement policies that require evaluation of multiple, competing products based on open ICT standards in order to ensure a level playing field for vendors, governments and consumers, *Cognizant* of the need for procurement policies for software programs that are predicated upon an open standard, Open Standards ============= Given the multiplicity of interpretations of the term open standards, for the purpose of this document we endorse as an acceptable definition the position contained in the European Union's draft European Interoperability Framework: 1) The open standard is adopted and will be maintained by a not-for-profit organisation, and its ongoing development occurs on the basis of an open decision-making procedure available to all interested parties (consensus or majority decision etc.). 2) The open standard has been published and the standard specification document is available either freely or at a nominal charge. It must be permissible to all to copy, distribute and use it for no fee or at a nominal fee. 3) The intellectual property - i.e. patents possibly present - of (parts of) the open standard is made irrevocably available on a royalty free basis. 4) There are no constraints on the re-use of the standard. (IDABC EIF v2 draft (http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/7728)) As noted in the European Interoperability Framework cited above, open standards or technical specifications must allow all interested parties to implement the standards and to compete on quality and price. The goal is to have a competitive and innovative industry, not to protect market shares by raising obstacles to newcomers. Thus, open standards or technical specifications must be possible to implement in software distributed under the most commonly used open source licences, with no limitations arising from patents associated with the standard in question. In addition to the above requirements, it is recommended that there should be multiple independent implementations of the standard. *Governments, publicly funded and non-profit institutions* agree to implement the following policies. Governments, publicly funded and non-profit institutions Hereby agree to the following measures in order to promote interoperability and accessibility through the use of open standards. 1. To create a policy statement on interoperability and open standards, to be available to employees and the public. 2. By 2010, procurement of all software should be vendor neutral and implement open standards 3. By 2010, tender specifications for hardware (including peripherals and mobile devices) should require that manufacturers provide the driver and interface information necessary to work with a reasonable range of proprietary and free operating system platforms. 4. By 2010, all public facing web pages should conform to W3C standards for structure, presentation and accessibility. 5. By 2010, tenders for the supply of web based services (for example, online reservations) must specify the requirements of point 4. 6. By 2010, agencies should implement policies regarding the storage and archiving of government data and records to ensure that data is stored in open data and document formats. Signed by the following parties: -------------------------------------------- Aslam Raffee, Government IT Officers' Council, OSS Working Group,Republic of South Africa Association for Progressive Communications (APC) Bob Jolliffe, Freedom To Innovate, South Africa Centre for Internet and Society, India Eddan Katz, Electronic Frontier Foundation Hamid Rabiee, Sharif University of Technology, Iran Knowledge Ecology International Moving Republic, India Shuttleworth Foundation, South Africa Swathanthra Malayalam Computing, India Endorsed by the following parties: ------------------------------------------------- Bangladesh Friendship Education Society, Bangladesh Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), India Foundation for Media Alternatives, Philippines OpenForum Europe -- Anivar Aravind http://anivar.movingrepublic.org 7/1, 1st Floor, 1st Cross , Ankappa block J.C Nagar, Bangalore -560006 Ph +91 9449009908 / +91 80 23435606 -- Any responsible politician should be encouraging a home grown Free Software industry because it creates the basis for future jobs. Learning Windows is like learning to eat every meal at McDonalds.

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