I would like to thank Anil for bringing some good news to Free Software community. But going through the draft discussion paper I am not sure that it is in the right track.
As a person who is closely working with the Free Software Movement for quite some time I've observed the changing views relating to Free Software. Several opponents became friends of Free Software. And newer interests started coming in. Also various interest groups started redefining Free Software as they wish, to satisfy their needs.
<split> In case of software there is a global movement for cost-effective solutions, popularly known as 'free software' which are distributed under General Public License (GPL). With the use of these software local software expertise will increase and cost of software development will be fully distributed for local employment generation. Closed approach of patented software ultimately cause degradation of our existing software expertise. While use of patented software will take away a huge ammount as software cost and license fees by trans-national companies. </split>
Free Software was never a movement for cost effective solutions. As all of us know Free Software Movement started because some people thought Software (and knowledge in general) should be freely available to the society. They cared about the community. Today we have several thousand Free Software because of their vision and the fight they did.
It is true that Free Software provides for 'cost effective solutions'. But it is not just about 'cost effective' solutions. Cost effectiveness came as an effect of Freedom Free Software provides. If we are concerned about cost alone and forget the social and ethical reasons of why Free Software I am sure we are going to fail in long run. We must remember these when we make the policies for govt etc.
I've high regards for active and committed team behind ATP and related organisations(OSS,EIID etc), and that is my fear too. Way back in 2000 they showed how we can use Free Software for local body computerisation programs. May be first of its kind in the country. Yet another Kerala Model. EIID was name of the project and in my understanding project was supported by the District Panchayath. Due to lack of clear policy decisions project didnt reach completion. The policy of OSS during that time was against the use of term Free Software in the beginning. I am glad that OSS has changed that stand and started saying Free Software (I feel term Open Source is not that popular in Kerala now). Coming to the issue at hand lets look at what happened to EIID project code. It is yet to see the light of Freedom. Gone with the project !! (Eazel is gone, Nautilus still lives).
OSS is saying it is distributing Free Software under GNU GPL. But was not made available to community at large. OSS releases code or not is secondary issue now. Choosing Free Software license or not, is their choice. But I am sad to say OSS taking an opportunistic position, talking of Freedom when it helps and ignoring other wise (I sincerely likes to see my statement wrong).
I dont want to hurt any one with these comments. But I am forced to make public statements because even after asking repeatedly i've not received any clear statement from OSS regarding policy and practice. I hope OSS will take a clear stand based on Free Software ethics. Let us show that Alternate World is possible by our deeds.
So discussion on IT or Software policies should ask several question.
- What is a Software (not technically)? - Is software patents and 'closing' the source only issues ? - What is the stand on 'cost effective' proprietary software ? - Do we have responsibility to global community ? - Transnational Proprietary companies are bad local ones are ok ?
(And several other questions relating to social implications of IT)