In my view, support for FOSS adoption and opposing software patents are
really two sides of the same coin.
Also, as I can see, the predominant position amongst members on this
list has been to include software patents as an issue for FOSSCOMM to
engage with.
Only Kenneth has not wanted this inclusion and again he clarifies that
while he is personally against sw patents, NRC-FOSS cannot take that
position. In some cases we may not be able to get our organizational
endorsement for our positions (like Red Hat or HBSC or UNESCO) and that
should not become the constraint or limitation for the work of FOSSCOMM.
We should be able to move forward on our work even in the absence of
endorsement of specific institutions in specific cases, in this case,
NRC-FOSS on sw patents.
Hence I suggest that FOSSCOMM must engage with this issue, else I would
not understand rationale for setting up FOSSCOMM. There is no point in
creating another FOSS forum for that, FOSSCOMM was intended to be the
forum for pro-FOSS people and organizations to work together.
Also Kenneth is not correct in his statements suggesting that sw
patents issue inclusion would make FOSSCOMM = FSF. Most people on this
list (like IT for Change) are not FSF members.
I was in the Bangalore meeting. While the agenda is clearly to broaden
the 'appeal' of FOSS beyond groups already working on FOSS, there was no
suggestion that FOSSCOMM should be so broad that it cant even take up an
issue like sw patents. I think that any NGO or CBO or academic
institution would take clear stand against sw patents and this would not
affect our efforts to inclusive.
I request Kenneth to feel the 'sense of the house' and hope we can move
forward on this important issue.
regards
Guru
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.html
Nagarjuna I agree 100 percent with your mail in the link above. I feel
we should keep the CMP aside for the time being.
Venky
_______________________________________________
network mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.fosscom.in/listinfo.cgi/network-fosscom.in
--
Gurumurthy Kasinathan
IT for Change
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
Tel:98454 37730
www.ITforChange.net
http://Public-Software.in
http://India.IS-Watch.net
http://IS-Watch.net
http://content-commons.in
*IT for Change is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with United
Nations’ Economic and Social Council*
_______________________________________________
network mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.fosscom.in/listinfo.cgi/network-fosscom.in
