This is for ilug members. I am part of your network because Dr.Ranjan was
my friend. I follow the mails regularly on a personal basis. As you can
see Richard Stallman would be visiting Calcutta as a guest of Jadavpur
University from 17th to 19 th February. If ilug-cal wants to organise
something you may get in touch with me at your earliest.
My name and address follows:
Prof.Ashoke Ranjan Thakur
Pro-Vice Chancellor
Jadavpur University
Tel: 2414-6001/6000 (ask for me)
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 15:50:17 -0500
From: Richard Stallman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Visiting Kolkata
We would take care of your Pune to Calcutta and Calcutta to Delhi by
Economy class airfare and it would be our pleasure to provide you with
local hospitality during your stay in Calcutta. Kindly confirm the dates
at your earliest convenience.
Ok, let's confirm Feb 17-19. (Maybe I can stay till Feb 20-- I should
be able to tell you that by the start of Feb.)
What should the speech topic be?
Here's the info packet about my speeches.
My usual speech about the Free Software Movement and GNU takes between
2 and 2.5 hours. That typically includes over one and a half hours of
my speaking, plus plenty of time for questions, because people usually
want to ask a lot of questions.
I can manage to squeeze a speech into an hour, but some topics will be
omitted and there will be no time for questions. Once we are going to
the trouble and expense of having me come and speak, we may as well do
a thorough job of it.
A typical title would be this:
The Free Software Movement and the GNU/Linux Operating System
There are other topics I speak about, such as
Copyright vs Community in the Age of Computer Networks
and
The Danger of Software Patents
These topics take just an hour.
I can also possibly speak about some other topic if you suggest one.
Abstract:
For a speech about the Free Software Movement and GNU/Linux, you
can use this abstract:
Richard Stallman will speak about the purpose, goals, philosophy,
methods, status, and future prospects of the GNU operating system,
which in combination with the kernel Linux is now used by an
estimated 17 to 20 million users world wide.
For Copyright vs Community, you can use this abstract:
Copyright developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed
to fit with the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing
press. But the copyright system does not fit well with computer
networks, and only draconian punishments can enforce it.
The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying
for draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers,
while suppressing public access to technology. But if we
seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of
copyright--to promote progress, for the benefit of the
public--then we must make changes in the other direction.
For Against Software Patents, you can use this abstract:
Richard Stallman will explain how software patents obstruct
software development. Software patents are patents that cover
software ideas. They restrict the development of software, so
that every design decision brings a risk of getting sued. Patents
in other fields restrict factories, but software patents restrict
every computer user. Economic research shows that they even
retard progress.
Asking for the text:
I don't write my speeches in advance--it would take too much time.
However, transcripts of my past speeches are available.
Richard Stallman
545 Tech Sq rm 425
Cambridge, MA 02139
USA
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