Fwd: [ilugd] CPI(M) manifesto calls for promotion of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Raj Mathur raju@linux-delhi.org Date: 2009/3/19 Subject: Re: [ilugd] CPI(M) manifesto calls for promotion of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) To: ilugd@lists.linux-delhi.org
On Wednesday 18 Mar 2009, vinay ವಿನಯ್ wrote:
The CPI(M) manifesto released on the 16th of March calls for the promotion of FOSS. The manifesto can be accessed at http://www.cpim.org/manifesto.pdf
Following are some of the highlights of the policy -
- Promoting FOSS and other such new technologies, which are free from
monopoly ownership through copyrights or patents;
- Revamping the functioning of the Patent offices to ensure strict
adherence to the Indian Patent Act; Stop training and orientation of Indian Patent office personnel by the US and European Patent offices
I wish they'd also explicitly mentioned revamping the school IT syllabus. OTOH, it's great we have at least one more party with a stated vision that encompasses FOSS -- now everything else being equal I'd toss a coin and vote for either BJP or CP/M ;)
Digression...
I don't recall the BJP stating a position on patents in agriculture and pharmaceuticals yet. However, at the risk of being forever banned from this list, I believe that openness and transparency in those sectors is orders of magnitude more critical than some piddly little software patent and FOSS vs proprietary software debate that only affects a few of us elite types.
People dying because of lack of food, farmers unable to use the seeds of their crop for their next sowing, patients not receiving treatment since they cannot afford patent-encumbered medicines -- these are issues that make intellectual debates about software seem as relevant as a dispute in a kids games of marbles during all-out nuclear conflict. From that point of view, thank you CP/M for at least mentioning patents in agriculture on page 16.
OldMonk's Thought of the Day: No one died because of proprietary software.
</digression>
Regards,
-- Raju -- Raj Mathur raju@kandalaya.org http://kandalaya.org/ GPG: 78D4 FC67 367F 40E2 0DD5 0FEF C968 D0EF CC68 D17F PsyTrance & Chill: http://schizoid.in/ || It is the mind that moves
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On Thu, 2009-03-19 at 09:06 +0530, Vikram Vincent wrote:
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Raj Mathur raju@linux-delhi.org Date: 2009/3/19 Subject: Re: [ilugd] CPI(M) manifesto calls for promotion of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) To: ilugd@lists.linux-delhi.org
I don't recall the BJP stating a position on patents in agriculture and pharmaceuticals yet. However, at the risk of being forever banned from this list, I believe that openness and transparency in those sectors is orders of magnitude more critical than some piddly little software patent and FOSS vs proprietary software debate that only affects a few of us elite types.
People dying because of lack of food, farmers unable to use the seeds of their crop for their next sowing, patients not receiving treatment since they cannot afford patent-encumbered medicines -- these are issues that make intellectual debates about software seem as relevant as a dispute in a kids games of marbles during all-out nuclear conflict. From that point of view, thank you CP/M for at least mentioning patents in agriculture on page 16.
Dear Raju,
I agree with Raju that there are matters that are much more important to people, especially in India, than software freedom. Food and health are two of the basic necessities of life and they are being threatened by proprietarisation of knowledge and control by multinational corporations. They are even trying to control the kind of food we eat. These are very important issues and some of us, Free Software activists, are involved in movements against these also, as you may know. Let us thank the CPI(M) for making it a point in their manifesto.
Having said that, let me say that I don't agree that the issue of software freedom is totally insignificant. It is important because the government is beginning computerise its work. And in that, transparency and security are important factors. There, the use of proprietary software could compromise various things that could affect not just some elites but everyone. Therefore, I believe, software freedom has a place, though not as high a place as food and health.
Best
On Thursday 19 Mar 2009, V. Sasi Kumar wrote:
[snip] Having said that, let me say that I don't agree that the issue of software freedom is totally insignificant. It is important because the government is beginning computerise its work. And in that, transparency and security are important factors. There, the use of proprietary software could compromise various things that could affect not just some elites but everyone. Therefore, I believe, software freedom has a place, though not as high a place as food and health.
As noted earlier, that was a digression, and I don't really know if this is the right forum to continue this debate (but am doing so anyway :) . If I had to restate my point in a more palatable fashion, (speaking purely for myself), I'd happily vote for party FOO who had introduction of software patents and banishment of all FOSS in its manifesto, as long as they promised to rescind the TRIPS clauses related to agricultural and pharmaceutical patents. In my scale of things (and in yours too I bet!), lack of freedom in agri and pharma nullifies even perfect freedom in any intangible field, e.g. software, music or books.
Note that this is a moving target: as India (and Indians) grow more wealthy, the relative importance of food and drugs vs software and music keeps declining. When all 1.2 billion of us have enough food and adequate health care, software will be the overriding battle to be fought; until then, I will try to keep my outlook a bit wider.
Of course, all this is hypothetical and we can keep discussing this endlessly, so, while I look forward to your response(s), no more from me on this subject :)
Regards,
-- Raju
On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 11:07 AM, Raj Mathur raju@linux-delhi.org wrote:
On Thursday 19 Mar 2009, V. Sasi Kumar wrote:
[snip] Having said that, let me say that I don't agree that the issue of software freedom is totally insignificant. It is important because the government is beginning computerise its work. And in that, transparency and security are important factors. There, the use of proprietary software could compromise various things that could affect not just some elites but everyone. Therefore, I believe, software freedom has a place, though not as high a place as food and health.
As noted earlier, that was a digression, and I don't really know if this is the right forum to continue this debate (but am doing so anyway :) . If I had to restate my point in a more palatable fashion, (speaking purely for myself), I'd happily vote for party FOO who had introduction of software patents and banishment of all FOSS in its manifesto, as long as they promised to rescind the TRIPS clauses related to agricultural and pharmaceutical patents. In my scale of things (and in yours too I bet!), lack of freedom in agri and pharma nullifies even perfect freedom in any intangible field, e.g. software, music or books.
Note that this is a moving target: as India (and Indians) grow more wealthy, the relative importance of food and drugs vs software and music keeps declining. When all 1.2 billion of us have enough food and adequate health care, software will be the overriding battle to be fought; until then, I will try to keep my outlook a bit wider.
India is home to world's largest severely noursihed children, 77% spends less than Rs. 20 a day, those unable to consume 2200 calories have increased from 57.5% in 1993-94 to 2004-05. As per Sainath's article in Hindu yesterday India as further moved down the HDI (Human Development Index) from 128 last year to 132 now...
Still I wonder how people in teh same country fighting endlessly for software thinks "*When all 1.2 billion of us have enough food and adequate health care, software will be the overriding battle to be fought*"
What Vikram said is perfectly what any activist who fights for "TRUE" freedom contrary to "Psuedo" freedom advocates and preaches. If you are fighting for freedom and believes that a country like India needs freedom in software more than in drugs, pharmceuticals etc. , I think I need to know the meaning of "Freedom" which you are advocating ......
Of course, all this is hypothetical and we can keep discussing this endlessly, so, while I look forward to your response(s), no more from me on this subject :)
Regards,
-- Raju
Raj Mathur raju@kandalaya.org http://kandalaya.org/ GPG: 78D4 FC67 367F 40E2 0DD5 0FEF C968 D0EF CC68 D17F PsyTrance & Chill: http://schizoid.in/ || It is the mind that moves _______________________________________________ Fsf-friends mailing list Fsf-friends@mm.gnu.org.in http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-friends
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