On Tuesday 21 Jan 2003 9:50 pm, you wrote:
I started this thread with the statement that primary issue is not whether OSS is giving code or not.OSS is not doing anything against the rules of GNU GPL. But remember its more than a license. The stand of OSS is misinforming the people. They never talk of the ethical reason behind Free Software. For OSS its just a cost effective solution and Free Software provides a better business avenue.
OSS did not misinform any body. Our stand is well informed. We act for ethical reason behind GPL. I did not get what Arun exactly meant by 'better business avenue', If he meant for its conventional meaning, In our social situation proprietary is more profitable, which is not the business avenue of OSS.
I think Arun will take time to realise about OSS, for which he has to get rid of his narrow minded approach in accepting others activity.
Feeling i get from OSS's stand is. They want to leverage the popularity and financial benefits of Free Software. At the same time not interested in sharing the code in the spirit of Free Software. Here Freedom is restricted not through license but through practice. It will be right to say OSS is misusing GNU GPL.
May be Arun's version of GPL. I am still sure that he could not get what OSS policy and practice is.
Even when i put forward my strong objections to OSS, I admire the enthusiasm and commitment of OSS team. But they misinform people and that is our concern. I still hope OSS will change its stand in the spirit of the community.
Commitment and opprtunism will not co-exists, so one of his stand regarding OSS should be wrong.
As I have mention OSS policy and practice through my mail in this thread, I think most of you, whoever has followed it with a clear thought, might have realised it. You may or may not agree with it.
With this I stop discussion regarding OSS in this thread.
BTW, I think EIID was a socially funded project(by the District Panchayath). As i said code is yet to see light of Freedom.
Anybody can get it from Kunnanthunadu Panchayath or Chottanikkara Panchayath vikasana samithy without any payment. (Since EIID office is now permenantly closed you maynot get it from EIID office)
One more think I would like to mention here is that eventhough EIID was a socially funded project, Software developmentof Local Resource Database preparation was not fully funded by District Panchayath. As per its project proposal renmaining fund shold have been come from state goverment. This has been obstructed by IKM. So, in fact last few months of this project we have been working on voluntary basis.
Now let us have fresh discussion regarding IT policy
Regards,
Anil, ATPS