Dear Prof. Basu, First of all, let me congratulate you for taking the huge step of promoting Free Open source Linux OS in Bengali through the means of releasing a localized Bengali, Ubuntu-derivative Linux distribution named "Baishakhi".
This particular email is in response to your alleged claim of copyright violation of Baishakhi Inscript keyboard layout which is one of several layouts, being used in Ankur's English to Bengali dictionary project [1]. I, being the maintainer of the project, take the responsibility of responding to your claims [your email enclosed below]. I think, it is better to have the terminology clarified before getting into the discussion. As far as I see, there are three aspects of it. (1) Issue of trademark (2) Copyright of Layout design (3) Method of implementing the layout (1) Issue of trademark: As you have claimed, you own the trademark of "Baishakhi" then I agree we can't use the term "Baishakhi" in our project. I will make sure the term is not used anymore. (2) Copyright of layout design. You have claimed that "Baishakhi Inscript" is "copyrighted to us". I am amazed to see your tall claim. You, in your specification, have clearly said "Baishakhi Inscript" is a modified version of "Inscript" layout design [2]. So, according to you, "Baishakhi Inscript" is a derivative of "Inscript" layout design. I am sure, you are aware that according to the terms of GPL the original authors (In this case Bureau of Indian Standards, Govt of India) remain the copyright holder of any derivative work. Just because you have modified some part, doesn't make you an exclusive copyright holder of the design. (3) Method of implementation: You have claimed, that the ".klc" file that is being used for "Baishakhi Inscript" in the Bengali Virtual Keyboard of [2], is a "minimal modification" of "baishakhi_inscrpt.klc prepared by us" . Would you please care to show, where exactly any Ubuntu version or your Baishakhi Linux uses .klc file (Microsoft layout format) to specify any input layout? Or would you please point out any link where from one can get the source of "Baishakhi Linux" so that one can check whether "baishakhi_inscrpt.klc" file exist inside it at all? Question of verifying your claim of "minimal modifications", comes later. Otherwise, the question of "minimal modification" of your .klc file seems just a wishful thinking to me. Regarding wrong mapping of "?", I think that is a bug in my implementation and not a feature. I mainly volunteer for use of Bengali in Free OS like Linux and I have no intension of taking the credit that you deserve. It is really painful to see your allegation, specially when you claim to promote free software movement for Bengali. In any case, I will be happy to hear your response. [1] http://www.bengalinux.org/english-to-bengali-dictionary/ [2] http://www.nltr.org/download/About_Inscript_Keyboard.pdf NB: Given the issue affects one of Ankur (Bengalinux.org) project, I am marking a CC to the core member of the group. Best Regards, Golam On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 6:03 AM, Ilya S. Lebedev <i...@lebedev.net> wrote: > Hello Golam, > > I've received a letter from Anupam Basu, director of Society of > Natural Language Technology Research complaining of use their > registered keyboard layout name "Baishakhi Inscript". > > Please, rename your layout to fix this issue. > > Thank you. > > ---------- Forwarded ---------- > Fro Anupam Basu <anupam...@gmail.com> > To: "Ilya S. Lebedev" <i...@lebedev.net> > Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:48:10 +0530 > Subject: Copyright Violation of Baishakhi Inscript Keyboard > > Dear Ilya, > >The keyboard layout "Baishakhi Inscript" was developed by Society > of Natural Language Technology Research and Mat3Impex. The same > was released by the Hon. Minister of IT in September 2008 > I have compared the two .klc files (baishakhi_inscrpt.klc prepared by us and > another bengali-baishakhi-inscript.klc by Mr. Hossain). There are some minor > changes in his .klc file. The most important thing is that in his .klc file > there is no '? ' but in our .klc file it is in normal mode of 'w' key. > > Hence, it will be proper to include our keyboard as the Baishakhi Inscript, > copyrighted to us. > We will send our .klc file to you. > > Mr. Hossain can rename his file and publish it with the minimal modification > that he has done UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME. > > Regards, > > Anupam Basu > > > ---------- Forwarded ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This SF.net email is sponsored by: SourcForge Community SourceForge wants to tell your story. http://p.sf.net/sfu/sf-spreadtheword _______________________________________________ Bengalinux-core mailing list Bengalinux-core@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bengalinux-core
