[Fsf-friends] MIT releases Software Tools for Hindi and Tamil

[Ramanraj K]

Ministry  of Communications  & Information  Technology,  Government of
India,  has released  Software Tools  and Fonts  for Hindi  and Tamil.
Except OpenOffice,  FireFox and and few other  software packages, most
of the other packages  are proprietary software that require Microsoft
Windows.  It  is shocking to see our  government promoting proprietary
software packages and licenses this day, this way.

None of the proprietary tools  distributed by MIT can be called "free"
as they require _Windows_ 95/98/*  to run.  The other strange thing is
that some  of the tools released  can be used only  for "Personal Use"
(See a sample  license in the footnote) If the idea  is to promote the
use of Hindi, Tamil and other languages, then the restrictions imposed
by  the  non-free  licenses   are  clearly  opposed  and  against  the
objectives.   If we  desire to  promote Hindi  or Tamil  or  any other
language for that matter, we ought  to encourage their free use in all
our public  affairs with freedom, which  could be done  best only with
Free Software.  

Most  of the  language  tools could  be  used on  Windows  but not  on
Gnu/Linux or any other  operating system. Even OpenOffice, FireFox and
any of  the other  few free software  tools are shown  as applications
that run on Windows, and (btw?) on "Linux".

If public funds  have been utilised for producing  the language tools,
then  they ought  to  be  released under  free  licenses.  MIT  should
distribute  only free software  that is  vendor and  platform neutral,
giving people  the tools  and freedom to  communicate in  their mother
tongue, both in private and public affairs through digital medium.

Regards,
Ramanraj K.

Footnotes:
One sample license found in the distro:

<quote>
Copyright © 2005 Language Technologies Research Center
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, India
All Rights Reserved.

This license applies to Text  to Speech and Speech databases developed
by Language  Technologies Research Center,  International Institute of
Information Technology, Hyderabad, India. These are herein referred to
as the "Software".

Subject  to the  terms and  conditions of  this  license International
Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad hereby grants you to use
this Software solely for your Personal Use.

"Personal Use" means use of  this Software by an individual solely for
his  or  her personal,  private  and  non  - commercial  purposes.  An
individual's  use  of this  software  in his  or  her  capacity as  an
officer,  employee,  member,  independent  contractor or  agent  of  a
corporation, business or organization (commercial or non - commercial)
does not qualify as Personal Use.

This Software is protected by copyright law and treaties. Reproduction
or distribution  of this Software  or any portion  of it with  out the
permission  of  International   Institute  of  Information  Technology
Hyderabad  may result  in civil  and  criminal penalties  and will  be
prosecuted.

THE  INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY  HYDERABAD AND
THE CONTRIBUTORS TO  THIS WORK DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES  WITH REGARD TO
THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
FITNESS, IN NO EVENT  SHALL THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY HYDERABAD  NOR THE CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE  FOR ANY SPECIAL,
INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES  OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING
FROM LOSS OF  USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN  AN ACTION OF CONTRACT,
NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER  TORTUOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF  OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

</quote>