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

justin joseph justinjoseph007 at gmail.com
Fri Mar 20 14:46:45 IST 2009


On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 1:52 PM, Anivar Aravind
<anivar at movingrepublic.org> wrote:
> 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.

But there is no "monopoly ownership" through copyright or patents in
case of Free Software.
And how is "Monopoly ownership" of software gained, it is also through
copyrights plus patents.

Bug description invalid, marking as invalid :-)

> 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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