Fsf-friends December 2005

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

30 participants
45 discussions

GPL-v3
by Nagarjuna 31 Dec '05

31 Dec '05

FSF is entering 2006 with a very important task, drafting GPLv-3. GPLv-2 was released in 1991, and it is the most widely used free software license. During the course of time, the computing environments are transforming, particularly with the entrance of webservices and embedded devices. In the context of these changes, it is possible that user's freedom may not be preserved. FSF is committed to protect the software freedom even under the transformed conditions in future. A draft of the GPL-v3 will be released during the First International Public GPL-v3 launch conference to be held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on January 16 and 17, 2006. It is very likely that I will attend this event and will participate in the delibrations representing FSF India. I invite the free software community in India to actively participate in shaping the new license. If you would like to share any specific inputs let us discuss them here in the list. You may also want to send me your thoughts directly. Visit http;//gplv3.fsf.org/ wishing you all a success in protecting software freedom. Nagarjuna

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[OT] The Morning Songs by Rabindranath Tagore
by Ramanraj K 30 Dec '05

30 Dec '05

I have searched in vain for the 3rd stanza of "The Morning Songs" by Rabindranath Tagore . Could someone please point a link or send me the complete text of "The Morning Songs"? It would be used to update http://freeshell.in/~ramanraj/kr_tagore.html Thanks, Ramanraj K

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Free Software Events in 2005
by Manilal K M 30 Dec '05

30 Dec '05

Hi all, Is there any effort to list the Free Software events in 2005 ? It'll be nice if such a WIKI is set up by FSF for this pupose. This will provide a good reference in the future and also serve as a review of the past year. regards Manilal.

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Re: Fsf-friends Digest, Vol 32, Issue 25
by Mishi Choudhary 30 Dec '05

30 Dec '05

no wonder the award considering who constitutes BSA Warm Regards Mishi Choudhary

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Re: IPR in Computer software
by Ramanraj K 30 Dec '05

30 Dec '05

bbls_ps(a)allahabadhighcourt.in wrote: >Dear Sir >The aforesaid article and some other articles by his lordship Justice >Yatindra Singh dealing with computer software, open source are available >on the web site of the Allahabad high court (www.allahabadhighcourt.in). >They may be seen by going to the >web Diary - Item Wise - speech/article or may be accessed at >http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/calendar/itemWiseList.jsp?group=11 > >Yours truly >BBL Srivastava > Thank you for the information. I'll forward the news to other mailing lists that would find the articles and site interesting and useful too. It is heartening to know that the Allahabad High Court is using free and open software and standards so extensively. If I may say so, the articles by Hon'ble Mr. Justice Yatindra Singh have approached free software from a neutral point of view and present a fair picture to the reader. In the talk titled "OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS" delivered by Justice Yatindra Singh at NALSAR Hyderabad and NLS, Bangalore and NUJS, Kolkata, Linus Torvalds has been quoted from "Just for Fun: the Story of an Accidental Revolutionary' as saying: "The GPL and open source model allows for the creation of the best technology. ... It also prevents the hoarding of technology and ensures that anyone with interest won't be excluded from its development. So open source would rather use the legal weapon of copyright as an invitation to join in the fun, rather than as a weapon against others. It's still the same old mantra: Make Love, Not War, except on a slightly more abstract level." The quote captures the key IPR feature central to free software, and makes the legal intricacies involved superfluous. The practical reasons why many prefer to use free software is succintly summarised in the following words: "I shifted to GPLed software few years ago: the reasons were practicable. GPLed software comes without any cost. And it does what I do--word processing, playing music, watching Video, surfing internet,and electronically managing my calendar --as well as any other proprietary software." More generally, the observations on using computers in the talk titled "IT: The Road to Speedier Justice" is remarkable: "Computers are like 'English butlers'. They have to be told what to do and they do it in that way and no other way. Computers love routine and are never bored. But to achieve any success the minds of the judges, lawyers, and court employees have to be streamlined into a method. One has to leave individualism. The reports cannot be generated unless data is fed into computers; they will not have any meaning unless they are utilised and goals are fixed. And above all, if there is no will to change, no orientation to the work culture, then nothing can work." Sacrificing individuality is a small price to pay for the larger benefits received in return by the general public. Probably NRC-FOSS ( http://www.au-kbc.org/nrcf/index.htm )could include some of the articles as part of the curriculum for students. Public institutions that have not yet adopted free software practices need to wake up now. Thanks, Ramanraj K __ References: http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/event/OSS_&_IPR.pdf http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/event/IT_-_Speedier_Justice.pdf http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/pipermail/ilugc/2005-November/022135.html (My previous post to ilugc about the article titled "Intellectual Property Rights in Computer Software" by Justice Yatindra Singh of the Allahabad High Court published in AIR 2005 Journal 353.

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Indian journalist wins Arab IPR media award
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 29 Dec '05

29 Dec '05

Maybe an issue to mull over: do journalists who write about software "piracy" pay for the proprietorial software they use? As a Free Software user, I do neither of these, and think the debate is being very badly skewed in the interest of big business. This is also reflective of the wider crisis afflicting journalism. -FN http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1583942,00050004.htm Indian journalist wins Arab IPR media award Press Trust of India Dubai, December 28, 2005 A Dubai-based Indian journalist has won the prestigious Arab IPR Media Award 2005 for his reportage on anti-piracy drive in the Arab world. Isaac John of Khaleej Times won the award for his "insightful reportage about the challenges and opportunities in forging an effective anti-piracy drive in the Arab world". The award was constituted by Business Software Alliance (BSA), a global organisation dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world, Co-Chairman of BSA (Middle East) Jawad Al Redha said. John -- a veteran of 25 years in Gulf media -- has won three Pan-Arab awards in a row in 2005, a rare distinction for an Indian journalist in this region. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayArticle.asp?col=&section=business&xfile=… Challenges ahead for anti-piracy drive By Issac John 17 August 2005 DUBAI - THE headway made by the UAE in combating piracy in computer software, film and music could be more remarkable if the Emirates succeeds in overcoming a major hurdle — a lack of consumer awareness and concern about this illegal activity besides non-cooperation from the public. Industry analysts and software experts believe that the next logical step for the UAE — which now has a low piracy rate of 34 per cent as against the global average of 35 per cent — is to foster a generation of consumers committed to, and convinced of the long-term social, ethical and economic impact for intellectual property rights (IPR) protection. Having overcome the first phase challenge of effective regulatory measures, the country's enforcement authorities now need to realise the importance of drumming up wider public support to their anti-piracy drive. This can be achieved only through sustained campaigns not only in business workplaces but also in schools and universities and other educational premises. "It is time that the UAE, which has sent a positive signals to its Gulf neighbours by the way it handled piracy, should seek to develop a culture proactive to fool-proof intellectual property protection measures. To realise this goal, enforcement of tougher rules is not only the answer but also the creation of awareness, right from an early age, about the negative aspects of IPR violations." "What is needed for our modern age techno- savvy society is a combination of stricter law enforcement and increased enlightenment. To combat IPR violations, effective legislation and its enforcement are vital, but no less significant is the support and cooperation both the authorities and the industries that are prone to copyrights infringement can win from the public," said a leading anti-piracy campaigner. "Therefore, to create a healthy and vibrant software industry and a strong environment for innovation, what is imperative is not only an effective and speedy implementation of policies and laws but also a sustained awareness campaign to win consumer hearts," he said. Most analysts maintain that in tandem with the strict implementation of regulatory measures, software industry should come up with improved copy protection technologies. "With CD burning and on-line file-sharing now becoming more rampant and undetectable in the UAE than organised sales in pirated software and CDs, effective copy protection technology is the immediate answer to the menace. In the long-term, it is only a well-orchestrated educational drive that could succeed and sustain." Stressing the need to introduce more copy-protected CD formats that limit the number of burns in curbing piracy, the analyst said CD burning is a growing problem that is really undermining the sale of software, films and music CDs in the UAE too. A random market survey by Khaleej Times underscored this growing trend. Market watchers said with the UAE's impressive PC penetration and sophistication rate, this type of privacy is almost on par with the US where burned CDs accounted for 29 per cent of all recorded music obtained by fans in 2004, compared to 16 per cent attributed to downloads from on-line file-sharing networks. In the UAE, while there is no organised or massive scale CD burning operations, an investigation by this paper found out that several production units catering to specific customer requirements — software, film or music CDs — are operational in certain residential areas, making them hard to be detected by anti-piracy squads. Nevertheless, the once-rampant sale of pirated CDs at parking places and street corners is now a rare sight the following the vigil kept by enforcement authorities. Subsequently, the UAE has been removed from the Special 301 Watch List by the United States Trade Representative. Analysts believe that it is imperative that government authorities and the software industries should marshal their efforts to educate the public that IPR protection is key to continued R&D to ensure innovations and growth in UAE's digital economy. Concerted efforts should also be taken to ensure all businesses understand the potential implications of lax security and the importance of creating a safe and legal working environment, they said. Experts also maintain that business establishments should be made aware of the pitfalls of pirated software. "Piracy stifles innovation. The cost of combating software piracy, plus lost revenues, could be spent on research and development to benefit users. When you buy legal software, you are contributing to the businesses that can improve your software in the future, as well as to the worldwide economy. When your organisation complies, you have the assurance that you are protecting your company from the legal fees, financial penalties, and bad press that accompany piracy lawsuits." The public should be made aware of the fact that pirated software may come cheap but can carry viruses or may not function at all. "Unlicensed users do not receive quality documentation and are not entitled to receive technical support or product upgrades, patches, or updates. Organisational productivity also suffers when employees use pirated products. Pirated software often leads to version control problems that prevent employees from efficiently sharing files, while driving up IT support costs," the expert warned. Piracy comes in many forms including licensed user duplication for unlicensed users and illegal Internet distribution. When someone copies software without buying the appropriate number of licenses, it is copyright infringement. Other forms of software piracy can occur when an individual copying a software for a friend or when a business under-reports the number of computers using a software. Warning against the pitfalls of obtaining pirated versions through illegal Internet distribution, experts said there is no guarantee that such software is secure or will work properly when installed. Estimates reveal that as much as 90 per cent of software sold over Internet auction sites is either bootlegged or gray market." With an estimated 35 per cent piracy rate globally, the economic effects of this menace are significant. In 2004, piracy cost the global economy some $33 billion, up from the previous year's $29 billion. Losses in the Middle East area and Africa are around $1.3 billion. According to global technology research leader IDC, the world spent more than $59 billion on commercial packaged PC software in 2004, up from $51 billion in 2003. But the total software installed was valued at $90, up from $80 billion. While the UAE, like its AGCC neighbours is giving keen care to adhering to TRIPS (the WTO's agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), it need to take more efforts in educating the public on its implications. As a front-runner in digital readiness in the Middle East, the UAE had a head start in embracing the Internet age, as well as mobile phone technology. In recent years, it made the protection of intellectual property a priority, and in the process, the country has blazed a trail as a regional role-model in safeguarding IPR. "Just as the UAE government has done to educate the local business community of the e-commerce and encouraged understanding of the Internet and its capabilities through various programmes, authorities should mount a consistent campaign to educate the public on the ill-effects of piracy." The country's copyright, trademark and patent laws, passed in 2002 were in harmony with international standards and exceed UAE's TRIPs obligations. The current copyright law, enacted in July 2002 grants protection to authors of creative works and expands the categories of protected works, to include computer programs, software, databases, and other digital works. Since then the UAE has come a long way with its piracy rates dropping to less than those of France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain Portugal and Canada. Most experts however, agree that suggestions or advice cannot completely thwart fraud. "A pirate will tell you anything it takes in order to sell you the illegal software. The best way to avoid pirated products is to purchase from authorized, reputable resellers. It is not uncommon for pirates to engage not only in the sale of illegal software but also in credit card fraud and identity theft. Counterfeit software may also have viruses or Trojan Horses." They advise that buying legal software saves money in many ways. "In addition, in most cases, all registered licensees receive information about productivity-enhancing updates, upgrades, and special offers. Organisations that manage their software licenses effectively standardise employees on common platforms; get rid of obsolete, unused assets; and manage more efficiently, resulting in fewer IT support calls, lower administration costs, and higher user satisfaction." -- ---------------------------------------------------------- Frederick 'FN' Noronha | http://del.icio.us/fredericknoronha Saligao, Goa, India | fred(a)bytesforall.org Independent Journalist | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9822122436 ----------------------------------------------------------

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Fwd: [Free-electron] Welcome to the list
by Arun M 28 Dec '05

28 Dec '05

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Deepak R <deepakmail(a)gmail.com> Date: Dec 28, 2005 6:01 PM Subject: [Free-electron] Welcome to the list To: free-electron(a)mm.gnu.org.in Hello all, The purpose of this list is mainly to ask questions and post comments about free electron. Hopefully this will also serve as a place to clear doubts if anyone of us is attempting a "freedom fight" in a college lab. There was an article in y'day's Education plus with The Hindu on free electron. http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/12/27/stories/2005122700110200.htm Suggestions to promote and improve free electron are also most welcome. -- Deepak R. Lecturer in Electronics and Communication, Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, Trivandrum 695035. Tel : +91-9447761729 (Mob) +91-471-2430244 (Res) _______________________________________________ Free-electron mailing list Free-electron(a)mm.gnu.org.in http://mm.gnu.org.in/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/free-electron

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Free Electron - free software to your liking
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 28 Dec '05

28 Dec '05

http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/12/27/stories/2005122700110200.htm Free Electron - free software to your liking N.J. NAIR Here is how open source software can be used as an educational resource for the benefit of all, particularly resource-starved institutions. In a significant attempt to promote innovation and help educational institutions conserve resources and overcome the limitations arising from the use of proprietary software, the Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment (SPACE) and the free software cell of Government Engineering College at Barton Hill in Thiruvananthapuram have jointly developed Free Electron, a GNU/Linux distribution package, mainly meant to meet the creative pursuits of electronics engineering students and teachers. Free software The proponents of free software have taken up the project to make it a valuable resource in education. The curbs imposed by proprietary software companies often hinder young talent from innovating. Either they would have to go for innovation ignoring the rules set by the companies or relinquish such ventures for want of funds. A boon Free Electron has come as a boon for all those who strive to make unique contributions in this realm. Setting up an electronic laboratory is rather a tough proposition for Government educational institutions and it is here that the Free Electron package comes to their rescue. According to R. Deepak, a lecturer in electronics at the Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, in addition to the typical desktop applications, Free Electron has the professional typesetting tool TEX, computer numerical application suite `ocatave,' computer algebra system `xmaxima,' electronic design automation suite gEDA and many more simulators, emulators and compilers required for various kinds of electronic design and simulation. The use of propriety software often limits IT education. Hence, the Government should adopt a policy against using proprietary technologies in educational institutions. Sensitising students should be the first step in creating an empowered society with free software and the creation of packages like Free Electron would set the trend in securing for the students more freedom to break new ground, he says. They can design tools and by having the customised CD they can practise at their convenience. They can also distribute the software among themselves totally free of cost. The software Free Electron comprises editors, electronic design tools, graphics, Math, a high-level language primarily meant for numerical computations, a multi-platform office productivity suite, `OpenOffice.org,' programming, typesetting, tools and viewers. Along with the customised CD, a detailed installation guide has also been prepared for the users. It is also available as an OpenOffice file in the directory `doc' in the CD. Academicians have made remarkable contributions for the development and popularisation of free software and Free Electron too is a step in this regard, says Vimal Joseph, an activist of SPACE. It gives the students as well as the teachers the right to copy and use it as one's own property, to study, modify and also to redistribute in an unrestricted manner. Highly adaptive Free Electron being highly adaptive, can be put to various uses without incurring any financial burden, says Joseph. SPACE is planning to widen its network on the campuses in an effective manner and make it accessible to more people within a very short span of time. As part of its awareness drive among students, the society has decided to give an assistance of Rs.50,000 each for the projects taken up by students. The society also has plans to set up cells in more educational institutions in the State. The society is encouraged by the warm response from the students and teachers. Almost all institutions would soon have such cells, says Mr. Joseph. Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

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Virtual education software progress in India
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 27 Dec '05

27 Dec '05

VIRTUAL EDUCATION SOFTWARE PROGRESS IN INDIA - Bangalore's Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, which leads the Indian Government-funded Development Gateway ICT Research and Training Centre, has published a technical paper on building virtual classroom situations using the center's Vartalaap software. The open-source software is being developed to cater to the online communications needs of people in their local language. To read "Vartalaap - Virtual Classroom System": http://www.elearn.cdac.in/eleltechIndia05/PDF/07-Vartalaap%20%E2%80%93% 20Virtual%20Classroom%20System%20-Supriya%20-%2007.pdf For information on the India center and its ICT4D projects visit: http://www.ictrt.org.in

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Free-Electron
by james mathew 27 Dec '05

27 Dec '05

Article in Hindu regarding the release of Free Electron by GECBH and SPACE. http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/12/27/stories/2005122700110200.htm -- "Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."

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Fsf-friends December 2005