[Fsf-friends] [fsug-tvm] Re: CPI(M) manifesto calls for promotion of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

Anivar Aravind anivar at movingrepublic.org
Fri Mar 20 13:52:15 IST 2009


Just Noticed a bug in CPIM Manifesto


> Following are some of the highlights of the policy -
> - Promoting Free Software and other such new technologies, which are free from
> monopoly ownership through copyrights or patents;

The problem on above statement is  Free Software is based on Copyright.

Anivar



On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 11:27 PM, Anivar Aravind
<anivar at movingrepublic.org> wrote:
> 2009/3/19 Santhosh സന്തോഷ് VS <everlovingyouth at gmail.com>:
>> "the Congress is left as the only major
>> national party which is yet to formally take a position on FOSS."
>> This is the reason for the doubt as the election here is
>> between congress and CPM
>> Clear that it is political. Otherwise which is the proof that congress is
>> not using it any where?
>
> I posted a Modified Version of Vinay's Mail.
>
> We expect Congress will also Support Free Software and Open Standards
> and all parties will reach at a common position on supporting Free
> Software
>
> A lot of positive steps are happened during UPA regime
>
> 1. Knowledge Commission report endorsing Free Software ( Now they have
> to take t to Policy)
> 2. 11th 5 year plan says FOSS is the only way to move forward to
> increase Computer penetration  in india from 1% of population to 5 %
> percent
> 3. National Draft Policy on Open standards ( They have to Mandate it now)
>
> Negative : Draft Patent manual that tried to introduce software
> patents that will have a serious negative impact on small and medium
> software enterprenures in the country
>
> So it is the time for them to decide on taking credits of these
> positive moves happened on UPA regime  by including the followups on
> their Manifesto.
>
>
> A short Note(personal) on CPIM & BJPs Policies  (lets talk negatives)
> we can congress also in this list after their manifesto
>
> BJP's IT Vision Document seems to be from a techno-nationalist
> perspective. It envision citizen as a member of network society (
> obliviously they  will miss a lot of citizens who does not have the
> access ) which is under state surveillance.  Access Question is not
> properly pointed in BJP's policy.  it is more about access quality &
> infrastructure (ie middle class and upper  class )
>
> Also it omits Important issues of Privacy of citizen in digital
> spaces.  It is talks about National ID cards (Biomentric? ) Cyber
> Warfare etc. It Also keeps silence about important issues like
> patents.  But their adoption is very positive . It opens a dialogue
> space with BJP on Free Software Values. Now they seems to be only
> concerned about Digital security of the state & not about the citizen
> . Also there are critiques about practicality of the policy based on
> cost estimates
>
>
> CPIM's manifesto is little more progressive for me compared to BJPs IT
> vision. It focuses extending the idea of Free software to other
> sectors like agriculture & Drug Discovery. But is silent about Open
> standards.  The strong point against  new Public Funded R & D Bill
> (which allows state patenting of Public Funded Research ) and against
> US & EU influences in Indian patent Office i also good.
>
> So let hope All Political parties will have a healthy competition on
> Supporting Free Software. we can reach at a conclusion based on all
> Manifestos
>
> Anivar
>


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