Q0. Why the fuss?
A free software activist and former student at CUSAT, Anivar Aravind was manhandled today (16/11/2008) by the “National free software conference organizers” @ CUSAT with assistance from the states police forces (UPDATE from Anivar: State Police force wasn’t used), for his peaceful protest against the “Novell Sponsorship”. The free software conference is backed by CPI(M), the ruling left party in Kerala.
Read an FIR on the incident here , here and here.
Q1. What is a free software?
According to GNU, “FREE SOFTWARES” are those softwares which gives its user the following freedoms (Read More).
- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
- The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
Q2. What is the problem with NOVELL?
Novell doesn’t respect the free software philosophy and works against the interest of the community. In short we are against Novell because of the following.
- Novell helps Microsoft more than it helps GNU/Linux.
- Novell still insults competing GNU/Linux distributions and Sun’s Openoffice.org. (Read more)
- Novell & Microsoft’s software patent agreement betrays rest of free software community, including the very people who wrote the Novell’s own system, for Novell’s sole financial profit. (Read more)
- Novell helps Microsoft’s fight against Ajax, web standards, SVG by supporting Silverlight & implementing its GNU/Linux version. (Read more)
- Novell supports Microsofts proprietary standard OOXML.
- Novell is pushing Microsofts patents to GNU/Linux and cheating Free Software Community.
- Novell is the biggest promoter of MONO in Free Software Development.
Q3. What can I do?
There are both short term and long term goals. Short term goals include protesting the organizers’s act either by forwarding this to your friends or posting about the issue on your blog.
The long term goal includes creating awareness about the “Evil Novell” and boycotting all Novell products. Read about the boycott in this site.
Q4. I heard you were an ardent Communist and now you are talking against CPI(M)?
Yes! what you heard is right and I am still a Communist. That doesn’t mean I will be supporting CPI(M) for all their deeds. This case is a clear hijacking and dilution of Free Software Philosophy.
I would like to see CPI(M) and the left parties supporting and spreading free softwares. But before that they should understand what exactly is a “Free Software” and respect the community.
Related Posts:-
1) ‘Boycott Novell’ boycotted from Free software conference!!! by aswinatgec.
2) Free Software Activist Man-Handled by jainbasil.
3) free software activist man-handled at free software conference ! by Bobinson
Since I am a beginner in free software community,these kinds of articles and protests help me better understand it.
Free software is par with freedom of speech. Any attempt to hinder this like Novell should be fought against.
NB: Who told you r a communist?
>I would like to see CPI(M) and the left parties supporting and spreading free softwares. But before that they should understand what exactly is a “Free Software” and respect the community.
Well said.
Layman often thinks that this free software has something to do with communism.
its interesting hear Krish’s comment at malayalikkoottam discussion page here:
പിന്നെ, നോവെല്ലിന്റ്റെ സ്പോണ്സര്ഷിപ്, മദ്യവര്ജ്ജന കാമ്പെയ്നുവേണ്ടി ബിവറേജസ് കോര്പ്പറേഷന് പണം നല്കിയതുപോലായി. കൊള്ളാം.
(http://www.flickr.com/groups/koottam/discuss/72157609168579782/72157609170273636/ )
PS: I would love to have OpenID enabled here.
@ Anil
Thanks for commenting.
@Bobinson
I think “Free Software”does have something to do with Socialism in its fight against monopolistic capitalists. BTW how will I enable openID here?
സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് മാത്രം മതി നമുക്ക് മൈക്രോസോഫ്റ്റുംവേണ്ട നോവലും വേണ്ട. വീ ആര് ദി എന്ഡ് യൂസേര്സ്.
>monopolistic capitalists
we need to redefine this first
lets discuss that at another time.
OpenID for wp:
I had jotted down few notes here:
http://www.freebird.in/wp/?p=128
more can be found here:
http://pravi.livejournal.com/24068.html
http://pravi.livejournal.com/21136.html
though I am not sure how to do it in wp hosted at wordpress.com
Thanks for the info. I do have some idea about openID, but as this blog is on wordpress.com, I can’t install any extra plugin, though I can use this URL for logging into openID enabled sites. And the info you have me will be useful in near future. Thanks!
Do I read MICROSOFT a lot in this post?
I don’t know… but this evangilism (Free Software =freedom of speech) sucks! The problem with FS evanglists is their arguments border on anarchy and they do not understand ‘co-existance’… (Thats why we are at the top of the food chain right?)
Has MS forced anyone to use thier software? If someone is trying to forece someone, it is the FSF by propogating (using of blatantly false statements, statements worded so carefully that the conotation is different from what is written) use of free software. Why is MS evil? Because it made software everyone liked and was usable? With all its flaws, MS was really instrumental in letting everyone, including you, to learn how to use computers and enabling the computer culture in this country.
And why do we cry hoarse about MS when I am sure that 99.99% FS evangilists of this country have used pirated MS software? Is that what FSF stands for? This is bull crap!
I don’t know… but this evangilism (Free Software =freedom of speech) sucks! ..sniff..
It doesn’t and thats why you can read your comment in my blog!
Has MS forced anyone to use thier software? If someone is trying to forece someone,
Now FSF is NOT forcing anyone to use free softwares. They create awareness among the people to understand the threats posed by a proprietary software, on their freedom, their culture, their privacy, their sovereignty etc. and in the end wise men chose the right way!
it is the FSF by propogating (using of blatantly false statements, statements worded so carefully that the conotation is different from what is written) use of free software.
We have shown enough of proof and references to prove proprietary softwares (and not just M$) are evil to society. Now it is your turn to prove your claims.
Why is MS evil? Because it made software everyone liked and was usable? With all its flaws, MS was really instrumental in letting everyone, including you, to learn how to use computers and enabling the computer culture in this country.
Gimme a break. I would still had studied programming, browsing and everything, whatever I am doing now if you had equipped me with GNU/Linux or even a mac. See for yourself, the school students in Kerala are laying their foundations using GNU/Linux. Microsoft just creates some techno-slaves and not some kinda culture you can boast about.
And why do we cry hoarse about MS when I am sure that 99.99% FS evangilists of this country have used pirated MS software? Is that what FSF stands for? This is bull crap!
Anyone can post allegations but only a few can prove them. I challenge you, “can you prove that 99.99% thingie???.. can you???….at least to 1st decimal place”
Piracy is a different issue. The problem here is FREEDOM. All of us will use and support M$ if it respects and follows free software philosophy. No FSF activist denies that.
You have a lot of misconceptions about free software philosophy, activities of FSF, GNU and all. If you correct it, well and good for you. No one is going to force anyone. As Che Guevara had said “I am not a liberator; Liberators do not exist; People liberate themselves “
Why all the fuss about ? It is true that Anivar has got the right for pointing out the alleged inconsistancy or even alleged hypocracy of the organisers of National Conference on Free Software, 2008 held in CUSAT. His protest through the poster campaign is well within his rights in this democratic society so long as it is in public place. It was tolerable any where in the campus walls, except on the posters put up by others. In any case not on the board of novell placed in the rented exhibition stall inside the hall. If Anivar is having any regard for the freedom he cherishes and preaches with respect to software, he shouldnot have pasted his posters on the novell’s board inside the exhibition hall. On the complaint from the novell representative, Anivar was asked not to do this. But he threatened the organisers that he will paste 10 posters for every poster removed. On such expression of arrogance and attack on the freedom of the novell to have its board placed in its paid stall, organisers of the exhibition ordered Anivar to be sent out of the novell’s stall. This is what has happened. Anivar could have even taken a stall on rental and exhibited his ideas. Anivar freedom shall not violate the freedom of others.
Then there is question of accepting novell’s money. Yes, the organisers had the responsibility to organise the conference and that could be done only by collecting funds. Even this post here accepts that Novell helps MS more than GNU Linux. This mentality of novell to help GNU Linux, though in lesser degree, was made use of by the organisers. Through this association, novell also is given a message that the supporters of free software accepts their support to GNU Linux and not to MS. The responsibility of the free software movement is to prompt and help every body to move over to free software and not to prevent the users of MS from shifting over to free software. Anivars stand of condemning all those who use MS or have any association with MS is against the advancement of software freedom movement. It also goes against the interest of ill-informed, un-informed and partly informed people to be informed and switch over to the correct position, in their own interest. The organisers of this conference doesnot subscribe to such sort of fundamentalism.
Joseph Thomas
I have been a non-vocal and a back bencher Free Software supporter till the ugly incident at the national conference on Free Software at CUSAT that took place on 16.Nov.2008. This day should be remembered as the Black November 16th. It was a shameful assault on the spirit of Free Software by people of vested interests. We the free software community should strongly resist any attempt to hijack the movement by commercial companies and commercialized left wing groups. People who employed the strong arm tactics against Anivar and others have not an iota of an idea about what Free Software stands for. Others might not agree with me, but I believe that Free Software movement is Socialism in all its purity.
Has MS forced anyone to use thier software?
Did you know it’s very difficult to buy a computer without a Windows license, unless you’re building it from parts. Even if you’d uninstall it as the first thing you do you’ve still paid for it. The new netbooks are a refreshing change and it also shows in the prices. Microsoft has huge OEM-deals that they give discount on the price of OS but require that OEMs can’t sell it without a Microsoft OS. If that’s not forcing then what is?
Why is MS evil? Because it made software everyone liked and was usable? With all its flaws, MS was really instrumental in letting everyone, including you, to learn how to use computers and enabling the computer culture in this country.
Made software everyone liked? I thought that was Apple.
Any operating system with a decent desktop will enable you to learn basic desktop operations and using office software, using mouse, typing emails, etc. MS surely wasn’t the first, but they’ve used underhanded techniques to crush competitors to achieve and maintain a monopoly. That makes then evil enough.
And why do we cry hoarse about MS when I am sure that 99.99% FS evangilists of this country have used pirated MS software? Is that what FSF stands for? This is bull crap!
I can’t say about evangelists you’ve met, but those I know don’t use any MS products. Given that they run Linux or BSD on desktop, even trying to use MS software is a pain. Perhaps you should get to know your nearest Linux User Group or FSF instead of spouting off on blog comments.
[...] This guy thinks that enough respect is not given? – If someone distributes nasty leaflets during you… [...]
@Joseph Thomas
Then there is question of accepting novell’s money. Yes, the organisers had the responsibility to organise the conference and that could be done only by collecting funds. Even this post here accepts that Novell helps MS more than GNU Linux.
This again and again points to the fact that the organizers know a hell load SHIT about free software philosophy. You people are compromising the free software ideologies for your ‘personal’ benefits. Do you think the “end users” or “the people” will get benefited because of Novells involvement in free software programs? NO! and if Novell is involved anywhere in the “Free software reich” the whole community is going to suffer. I suggest you to go through boycotnovell.com
This mentality of novell to help GNU Linux, though in lesser degree, was made use of by the organisers. Through this association, novell also is given a message that the supporters of free software accepts their support to GNU Linux and not to MS.
Cut the crap! Novell betrayed the free software community for their monetary benefits. period.
The responsibility of the free software movement is to prompt and help every body to move over to free software and not to prevent the users of MS from shifting over to free software. Anivars stand of condemning all those who use MS or have any association with MS is against the advancement of software freedom movement.
Again it is the mistake from the part of organizers allowing the people to use M$ in a Free Software event. If the organizers had at least some idea about the do’s and dont’s of FREE software, they wouldn’t have entertained people to use a proprietary software in their stalls.
This problem wouldn’t have happened if the program was organized the right way. I think this event is just for the personal benefits of the organizers rather than a public awareness. From what I heard from different delegates through their blogs, the organizing was a failure right from planning (which is quite clear from “Novell sponsored Free Software event”).
Hope this won’t happen at TVM,… now if that happens, I don’t think Anivar won’t be alone there; RMS, Ebin Moglen and a lot more are there to protest!… beware.
JUST SAY NO!
@ Raj Mohan & Mr A. Coward
Thanks for commenting and supporting.
@ Kerala Tips
There is no problem in protesting at a serial-rapist’s marriage!!!
ആരാണീ novell… എന്താണവന്റെ വിചാരം…. ഇവനൊക്കെ അടി കിട്ടാത്തതിന്റെ സൂക്കേടാണ്….
[...] we wrote about the protest in Kerala. Here is an explanation of why Novell is to be avoided. A free software activist and former student at CUSAT, Anivar Aravind was manhandled today [...]
l
There is much lie in the whole way this issue has been briefed up. I am also a viewer of the entire scenario. The freedom activists has posted notorious novell posters in the Novell corp owned standing flex banner and obviously they complained to the organisers. This pro gramme has happened in CUSAT where already there is police force since the chief ministers visit was confirmed within 3 hours. The organizing committee asked the protesters to showcase the protest in their stall if they have where in they have told that they will repeat the same if the posters will be removed from novells property. Watch closely, in the picture you are seeing the security incharge of cusat, not the police. check the uniform . others in white dress is the private security forces deputed by university. Freedom activists should show the dispute not through muscle power. They can showcase such difference of opinions in many other ways. making a problem , more over the event is also not coordinated mainly by these guys . This is not justifiable. attacking the private properties and standing , talking for freedom is not acceptable. This is a problem planned by few who want to promote their name in an illegal route and this is damaging the values real freedom workers. Check with those who have directly saw the problems. Truth and the news is having much difference.
Please bear with me. No time for writing the same in English.
‘സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് വക്താവ്’ അനിവറിനെ ശാരീരികമായി കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്തതില് എനിക്കും ഖേദമുണ്ട്. പക്ഷെ, അതേ അനിവറില് ഒരു ജനാധിപത്യ വിരുദ്ധന് ഒളിച്ചിരുന്നതാണ് (വികാരാധിക്യം കൊണ്ട് അറിയാതെ പറ്റിപ്പോയതുമാകാം) പ്രശ്നമായതെന്ന് തോന്നുന്നു. മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തില് അദ്ദേഹം കൈവെച്ചപ്പോള് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യാന് അവരും തയ്യാറായതായാണ് ഞാന് മനസിലാക്കുന്നത്. കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യല് രണ്ടായാലും ശരിയായില്ല.
പിന്നെ, സമ്മേളനത്തിന്റെ പേരും (സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് സമ്മേളനം) അനിവറിന്റെ സുഹ്രുത്തുക്കള് അതിനെ അവഹേളിക്കാനായിട്ടിരിക്കുന്ന പേരും (സ്വതന്ത്രമല്ലാത്ത സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് സമ്മേളനം) അന്വര്ത്ഥമാണ്. സമ്മേളനത്തില് സ്വതന്ത്രമല്ലാത്ത സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയറുകളും പ്രദര്ശിപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു. അവ കട്ടെടുത്തവയുമാകാം. സമ്മേളനം സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കാനായിരുന്നു. സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് വക്താവും അനുയായികളും മാത്രമാണ് സമ്മേളനത്തിലെങ്കില് എങ്ങിനെ അത് മറ്റുള്ളവരിലേക്കെത്തും. അതുകൊണ്ട്, സമ്മേളനത്തിലേക്ക് സംഘാടകര് എല്ലാവരേയും ക്ഷണിച്ചിരുന്നു. എല്ലാവരും വന്നില്ല. പലരും വരാതിരുന്നതിന് കാരണം അവര് സ്വതന്ത്രമല്ലാത്ത സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു എന്നതാണ്. ചിലര് പക്ഷെ, വന്നു. അവരെ, ആട്ടിയോടിക്കുന്ന നിലപാടാണ് സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് വക്താക്കള് എടുക്കുന്നതെങ്കില് എങ്ങിനെ അത് പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കപ്പെടും. കേരളത്തിലെങ്കിലും കഴിഞ്ഞ പത്ത് വര്ഷമായി സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് വ്യാപനത്തിന് എതിരായി നിലനില്ക്കുന്ന ഏറ്റവും പ്രധാന ഘടകം സ്വയം പ്രഖ്യാപിത സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് വക്താക്കളുടെ പിടിവാശിയും വിവരക്കുറവുമാണ്. അവരുടെ ധാരണ സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് സ്വന്ത്രമാക്കിയത് ലോകമാകെയെടുത്താല് FSF ഉം ഇന്ത്യയെടുത്താല് FSF (I) യും മലയാളത്തിന്റെ കാര്യത്തില് സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് വക്താവ് അനിവറുമാണെന്നതാണ് എന്ന് തോന്നുന്നു. സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര് പണ്ടേ സ്വതന്ത്രമായിരുന്നു. ഒട്ടു മിക്കതും ഇന്നും സ്വതന്ത്രമാണ്. ചിലവയെ ചിലവര് വളച്ചുകെട്ടുകയാണ് ചെയ്തത്. പൊതു ഉടമസ്ഥതയിലുള്ളവയുടെ ആ വളച്ചു കെട്ടല് മേലാല് നടക്കാതിരിക്കത്തക്ക നിയമപരമായ ചട്ടക്കൂട് നല്കിയെന്നതാണ് FSF ന്റെ മഹത്തായ സംഭാവന. അതിന്റെ കമ്പനിയായുള്ള ചട്ടക്കൂട് ഇക്കാര്യത്തില് സഹായകമാണ്. പക്ഷെ, ആ ചട്ടക്കൂട് ജനകീയ പ്രസ്ഥാനമായി മാറുന്നതില് പ്രതി ബന്ധമാണ്. യഥാര്ത്തത്തില് FSF(I) FSF ന്റെ പേരുപയോഗിച്ച് FSF ന്റെ ലക്ഷ്യ സാക്ഷാല്ക്കാരം ഇന്ത്യയിലെങ്കിലും തടയുകയാണ് ചെയ്യുന്നത്.
SMC നല്ലൊരു കൂട്ടായ്മയാണ്. മലയാളത്തിന് അത് നല്ല മുതല്ക്കൂട്ടാണ്. അനിവര് മാത്രമല്ല അതിലുള്ളത്. അനിവര് നല്ലൊരു മനുഷ്യനാണ്. ചെറുപ്പമാണ്. കുറച്ചു കൂടി ചരിത്ര ബോധമുണ്ടായാല് നന്ന്. അനിവര് FSF (I) എന്ന കമ്പനിയുടെ കയ്യിലെ കളിപ്പാവയാകാതിരിക്കാന് ശ്രമിക്കണമെന്ന് മാത്രമാണ് അപേക്ഷിക്കാനുള്ളത്.
UPDATE: A detailed description on the unfortunate incidents that happened during the “National non-free software conference @ CUSAT”…. by Anivar Aravind.
Beware of people spreading false news… (Yet another media syndicate?)
[...] Read Q4. in this FAQ. [...]