-----Original Message----- From: eiidp
As per the guildlines given by redhat through following page, there is no trademark infringement happened in CDIT's attempt to redistribute redhat CDs with their logo for Akshaya Project.
http://www.redhat.com/about/corporate/trademark/guidelines/page9.html
Got the news from Arun,that CDIT used RH 8.0 with some additional packages added and used the RH Logo. Hence,the case.
Did it publish its own CDs and used RH logo? or copied/distributed RH enterprise linux software?
They used RedHat 8, initially. They made packages which looked like RedHat packages. With redhat trademarked logo. In contained some additional stuff, on the same CDs or separate CD in the same package.
---- A=X+Y+Z ~Albert Einstein~
CDIT has distributed copies of RH9 to state IT mission. These CD's were labelled with redhat logo. Another CD which contains interactive study materials developed by CDIT for entry-level users is also distributed, This CD is not labelled with redhat logo or any thing else which has a reference of redhat.
The interactive CDs mainly contains audio-visual stuffs. There are some programs to render and present these stuffs plus some installation scripts. In addition, this CD contains, a program named Aksharavidya (an entry level editor package having Malayalam interface, with features like colour change, font change, Line alignment etc. ) and another program named 'Webdharsini' ( A highly featured browser based on Mozilla with Malayalam interface). All these programs are distributed in source tar balls. The installation scripts compile and load these program during installation.
Hence it is baseless to say that “They made packages which looked like redhat packages.”.
Let me briefly go through the incidents that lead to the distribution of free software for Akshaya. This may further lead to unmask the current campaign against free software in the state.
Initially CDIT was asked by state IT mission to develop a interactive CD for microsoft platform.
During the inauguration ceremony of Akshaya project, the opposition leader V S Achuthanandhan in the presence of President Abdul Kalam, has demanded the use of free software.
Due to this compulsion IT mission was forced to distribute free software stuffs for Akshaya projects. They have asked CDIT to replicate the CDs for Linux. So CDIT has gone through the above said exercises.
At the same time, the state microsoft lobby, is working hard to topple all the free software based projects in the state. The current manufactured reports on free software for Akshaya is one of their latest attempt.
The IKM ( Information Kerala Mission), after a long five year has almost surrendered their attempt to computerise the panchayaths. It would have been completed long back, it they had used the free software. Now microsoft lobby has to hide the failure of IKM and they had to ensure that this project should be done on microsoft platform. So they are attempting BOLT (built, operate, lease and transfer) for panchayath computerisation. They are in the process of fabricating the tender documents for BOLT agencies, so as to ensure its implementation using microsoft.
In order to hide these process they have to make some controversy and confusion over the use of free software. Hence the ill-motivated campaign against free software for Akshaya.
We should be very vigilant on these attempts by state microsoft lobby.
Regards,
Anil
Anil wrote:
CDIT has distributed copies of RH9 to state IT mission.
If CDIT, which appears to be a not-for-profit organisation, did the distribution free of charge, or without profit, then none can have any cause to complain, because the RedHat license guidelines clearly say:
<quote> We consider non-commercial redistribution to be any distribution for which you charge no more than the cost of replicating the CD and a reasonable handling fee. If any copies are to be distributed to individuals outside your organization, either the label or an accompanying printed document must indicate that: (a) the distribution is provided without any warranties (unless you elect to provide those warranties); and (b) this distribution does not include support (either technical or developer) services from Red Hat but that such services may be purchased from Red Hat separately. </quote>
Could Anil clarify if CDIT complied with these formalities? If yes then, the whole controversy appears to be based on rumours rather than on facts. The spirit of the free software movement aims to enable sharing and if a state comes forward with initiatives to promote use of free software, it should be appreciated and welcomed, particularly when it appears to be as lawful as it could be. As Anil suspects, the reasons for the mischievous propaganda against use of free software should be available soon.
Returning to another thread, at the start of this month, I had written about Free Software CD's (Clean Distributions), stressing the need to create distributions based on Knoppix, and compiling software from the sources. Rishi Gangoly showed interest, and recently RMS pointed to people working in this direction. FreeBSD developers are also excited about bootable FreeBSDCDR's, and lot of activity is proceeding in this direction to enable simple custom distributions. It would be ideal if a state could release its own custom distribution, to suit its purposes, without relying on any commercial packages for spreading the use of free software in the state.
Promoting free software with other distributions like Debian, Knoppix or FreeBSD should be less cumbersome. But, the ideal choice is to create one's own free software distribution.
References: http://www.akshaya.net
Ramanraj K said on Wed, Dec 24, 2003 at 11:16:33PM +0530,:
FreeBSD should be less cumbersome. But, the ideal choice is to create
`FreeBSD' is free as in freedom; but its license terms permit appropriation of source code because it is not a `copyleft' license.
Such licenses should be avoided.
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Anil -
Mahesh T. Pai -
Ramanraj K -
Senthil_OR＠Dell.com