Martin-Éric Racine wrote:
One idea I've had is to have an installfest at some public location in
Helsinki e.g. Kontupiste, Caisa, hall of the central post office, etc.
We could use Ubuntu to show the power of free software to the general
public and to achieve computer literacy among Finland's many groups of
refugees by demonstrating installation in e.g. Somalian and Turkish.
I believe this is very much in line with Ubuntu and general Gnu/Linux
advocacy.
This brings up the issue of press material to help LUGs organize such
events. Do we have any templates that could easily be localized and
printed out to advertise the event and to explain the key issues of the
Free Software agenda and of what Ubuntu is all about?
Check http://wiki.ubuntu.com/DIYMarketing. I' ve just extracted the text
from the CD-jackets which I think could be used if you don't have / don'
t want to give the CDs but at least explain what Ubuntu is.
I also added a link to the brochure text in the "Printed material" section.
I wish there was more information on where Ubuntu comes from (Debian) as
I frequently get the question about how long it's been around. But it' s
easy to explain.
This sort of event also requires a clarification similar to what Otto
mentioned about what user groups are allowed to perform in terms of
representation and of where the boundaries between Canonical's rights
and individual initiative stop.
I guess this has nothing to do with install fests or with the initial
paragraph you wrote. I haven' t followed the threads about legal
implications in Germany or France but in QC Canada I don't see this
being an issue.
Even though I may wear an Ubuntu or Mozilla polo at events, I make it
*very clear* I am NOT an employee or have any direct, binding commercial
relationship to the projects. I *support* them. I even wrote to Mozilla
for permission at some point and they answered back something to the
lines of "why do you ask ? Thanks for telling us - keep in touch." -
which makes sense. After all, isn't this about initiative, empowerment ?
I don't think we can provide for every type of abuse and start writing
guidelines before it happens. Can't ask anyone to wait ' til it happens,
either :(
To me, as a full-time consultant providing commercial services for
Ubuntu (among other free software), it's clear before handing out a
business card (if at all), I have to explain a bit about the somewhat
unconventional business model that has emerged from combining volunteer
efforts, advocacy, being a responsible "tech citizen", professional FOSS
support & services and earning my living by doing some of that job. I
also have the responsibility to know local law & regulations in terms of
liability. If that also applies to volunteer work, I have to know that
too but it' s up to me to check that. Even if Canonical would give me
that info, I'd still need to double-check ;)
On a practical note, I like to produce some material that is "vendor
neutral" so anyone can use it without saying " well, Fabian wrote that,
so I am not responsible". Perhaps Canonical could also do this, to a
certain extent. An example:
https://secure.fabianrodriguez.com/blog/archives/2005/11/21/mieux-initier-les-gens-a-ubuntu-et-les-logiciels-libres/
or
*http://tinyurl.com/bsb8r
Cheers,
Fabian
*
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