On Wednesday 05 August 2009, Venkatesh Hariharan wrote: > On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 7:26 PM, Nagarjuna G.<[email protected]> wrote: > > On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 6:56 PM, Venkatesh Hariharan<[email protected]> wrote: > >> I am all for software patents being addressed firmly within FOSSCOMM's > >> ambit. If FOSSCOMM has to be the voice of the FOSS community in India, > >> it has to address those issues that are vital to its survival and > >> growth. Software patents is one such critical issue. I am least > >> worried about a Common Minimum Program at this point in time. (Please, > >> please don't consider this as criticism of the CMP idea.) The FOSS > >> community has grown phenomenally over the years and will continue to > >> grow. However, we need to vigorously address issues like software > >> patents and open standards because these are decisive battles that lie > >> at the heart of creating an inclusive digital society. Our vision of > >> the digital society is of an open and inclusive one, while the > >> proprietary vendors want a closed, monopolistic vision to prevail. > >> FOSSCOMM should lead and fight these battles. I really don't want to > >> see our focus diluted for the sake of bringing more players under this > >> umbrella. > > > > +1 > > > > We are indeed going in circles. In an earlier mail on 30th June I made > > a point that we cannot go against the zeroth principle. Since of you > > joined late, please follow the mail, and the thread from the archives. > > > > http://lists.fosscom.in/pipermail/network-fosscom.in/2009-June/000269.htm > >l > > Nagarjuna I agree 100 percent with your mail in the link above. I feel > we should keep the CMP aside for the time being. >
Please include the fight against software patents as part of the CMP. I for one would be extremely disappointed if we do not do so. There is no logic in permitting software patents. Consequently organisations that join and are holders of patents will (have to ) clearly pledge not to use patents against any GPLv2/3/BSD licenced code authors and users. This is necessary due to organisations holding patents for "defensive" purposes. If they cant pledge they will not be permitted to discuss / participate / counter a FOSSCOM stance on this issue. I doubt that we will in any substantial way reduce membership. Further organsations which cannot take a stance on this issue are most likely going to become inimical to FLOSS, as "monetisation" of patents by patent trolls is the norm, primarily by takeovers by a certain philanthropist. -- Rgds JTD _______________________________________________ network mailing list [email protected] http://lists.fosscom.in/listinfo.cgi/network-fosscom.in
