23 Jan
2003
23 Jan
'03
6:12 p.m.
On Tuesday 21 Jan 2003 9:50 pm, you wrote:
I started this thread with the statement that primary
issue is not
whether OSS is giving code or not.OSS is not doing anything against
the rules of GNU GPL. But remember its more than a license. The stand
of OSS is misinforming the people. They never talk of the ethical
reason behind Free Software. For OSS its just a cost effective solution
and Free Software provides a better business avenue.
OSS did not misinform any body. Our stand is well informed. We act for ethical
reason behind GPL. I did not get what Arun exactly meant by 'better business
avenue', If he meant for its conventional meaning, In our social situation
proprietary is more profitable, which is not the business avenue of OSS.
I think Arun will take time to realise about OSS, for which he has to get rid
of his narrow minded approach in accepting others activity.
Feeling i get from OSS's stand is. They want to
leverage the
popularity and financial benefits of Free Software. At the same time
not interested in sharing the code in the spirit of Free
Software. Here Freedom is restricted not through license but through
practice. It will be right to say OSS is misusing GNU GPL.
May be Arun's version of GPL. I am still sure that he could not get what OSS
policy and practice is.
Even when i put forward my strong objections to OSS, I admire the
enthusiasm and commitment of OSS team. But they misinform people and
that is our concern. I still hope OSS will change its stand in the
spirit of the community.
Commitment and opprtunism will not co-exists, so one of his stand regarding
OSS should be wrong.
As I have mention OSS policy and practice through my mail in this thread, I
think most of you, whoever has followed it with a clear thought, might have
realised it. You may or may not agree with it.
With this I stop discussion regarding OSS in this thread.
BTW, I think EIID was a socially funded project(by the District
Panchayath). As i said code is yet to see light of Freedom.
Anybody can get it from Kunnanthunadu Panchayath or Chottanikkara Panchayath
vikasana samithy without any payment. (Since EIID office is now permenantly
closed you maynot get it from EIID office)
One more think I would like to mention here is that eventhough EIID was a
socially funded project, Software developmentof Local Resource Database
preparation was not fully funded by District Panchayath. As per its project
proposal renmaining fund shold have been come from state goverment. This has
been obstructed by IKM. So, in fact last few months of this project we have
been working on voluntary basis.
Now let us have fresh discussion regarding IT policy
Regards,
Anil, ATPS