[Fsf-friends] FSF mentioned in The Register

[Venky Hariharan]

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Venky



http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/30991.html


We've seen the future, Indian Prez tells Gates - and you're not in it
By Andrew Orlowski in San Francisco
Posted: 03/06/2003 at 03:19 GMT


Each year, while Bill Gates parties at the World Economic Forum at Davos,
Richard M Stallman makes a trip to Porto Alegre. Stallman takes part in
discussions on alternatives to globalization, US-style, at the World Social
Forum. His travel choice appears to be paying off.

Last week Indian President Dr Abdul Kalam called for a halt to the
"devastating" impact of proprietary software. He revealed that he had what
he called "differences" with the Microsoft founder when the two met last
November.

"The most unfortunate thing is that India still seems to believe in
proprietary solutions," said President Kalam.

"Further spread of IT, which is influencing the daily life of individuals,
will have a devastating effect on the lives of society due to any small
shift in the business practice involving these proprietary solutions. It is
precisely for these reasons open source software needs to be built which
will be cost effective for the entire society."

""It is precisely for these reasons open source software need to be built
which would be cost effective for the entire society. In India, open source
code software will have to come and stay in a big way for the benefit of our
billion people."

Kalam led India's missile program and was elected President by India's
national MPs and state assemblies last July.

Reflecting on the reaction to India's missile technology innovations, Kalam
has remarked, "It is really amusing that the Americans think that it is only
with their technology that India can succeed."

Pledge

Not for the first time, Gates was following in Stallman's footsteps. Both
visited India last Fall.

In November, Microsoft pledged $400 million of investment in the world's
largest democracy, including an education scheme that involves Microsoft
software, a move criticized by the Free Software Foundation Of India.

In response to some skeptical questioning from the Indian press about the
investments, Gates had this to say:-

"It is only because of Microsoft's approach that the computer industry has
become a worldwide industry."

And he probably believes it, too. In Bill's model of globalization, he is
the world. ®