swpat

While mailing lists becomes a play ground to execute Goebbelsian tactics, I feel i need to scribble the reason & step by step incidents in our campaign in National Conference on Free Software.

Q:Why You are Opposing Novell?

You all are aware of the 2 major campaigns in which Free Software community in India fought Last 1.5 Years. The Campaign for Document Freedom and Ongoing Campaign against software patents. Novell was always opposite to the Free Software Movement’s position

After the evil agreement with Microsoft Corporation (MS), Novell betrayed the Free Software community by violating the spirit of the GNU General Public license, which is the corner stone of the Free Software movement and legitimising the patent threats of Microsoft corporation.

The deal also legitimized Microsoft’s doubtful and undisclosed patent claims. This stigmatised every other distribution as open to lawsuit and disruption. Novell continues to advertise this.

Novell’s deal with Microsoft has many noteworthy impacts. To list several principal ones:

1. If Novell and Microsoft get their way, then metaphorically speaking, GNU/Linux will increasingly be pressured into a corner of the datacentre, essentially being marketed as a guest machine (running under Windows), as opposed to a host running with or without Windows virtualised. The virtual machine can be exploited as a sort of ‘gateway’, much like OEM bundling or even interference with boot sequences.
2. Microsoft formats and protocols, some of which are encumbered by software patents, receive priority, precedence, prevalence and promotion at Novell.
3. Microsoft creates revenue streams at the expense of those who build, maintain, support and distribute Free software. This not only deters developers but it also makes Free software a less appealing choice, based on cost. It impedes adoption of Microsoft’s number one competitor (according to Microsoft’s CEO).
4. It divides GNU/Linux into two classes; on the one hand you have ‘legal’ GNU/Linux (only a perceived notion fueled by threats of lawsuits) and ‘illegal’ GNU/Linux, which is “not licensed”. This raises tensions and it is not healthy to the ecosystem which is supposed to thrive in sharing of code. This week’s announcement of a predatory strategy against Red Hat is a timely example of that.

To name detriments that have occurred in the two years since that agreement, Novell lost the community’s trust and their market share arguably fell relative to competitors that did not make a similar deal.

Here are a few key detriments that affected Novell’s competitors (there are many more):

1. Patent allegations came from Microsoft in the middle of May 2007. At times, these allegations were explicitly backed by the deal that had been signed with Novell. This was not the first such incident and it was not the latest either (last one spotted a month ago).
2. The deal with Novell may have led to a chain of at least 7 more patent deals that cover Linux and accompanying parts. Novell’s deal served as precedence for ‘marketing’ such deals, as myself as others anticipated from the very beginning. The harms of these newer deals are similar to the harms of the deal with Novell, which was by far the most comprehensive (involving the most strategic collaboration and having the most negative impact).
3. As noted above, exclusion came from hypervisors, particularly in Hyper-V, using patent-protected hypercalls.
4. In a gruesome display of manipulation and misconduct, Microsoft managed to force OOXML through ISO’s gates. Novell helped this happen in a variety of well-documented ways. This type of help was part of the deal — the binding contract Novell had signed.
5. Concessions from regulators, who are being ’sold’ the story that Microsoft collaborates with GNU/Linux (but only Novell’s).
6. The deal enabled Microsoft to ’sell’ the impression that it intended to do well with the Free software community and thereby enter Linux and FOSS conferences as early as the deal was signed, sheltered by Novell’s presence or implicit invitation.
7. Novell is developing the GNU/Linux version of Microsoft’s proprietary web Technology called silverlight. The ‘covenant’ under which Novell has been granted this exclusive access also specifies conditions that are incompatible with the licensing that covers most other free software. As examples, it specifically requires that the software must have been “obtained directly from Novell or through an Intermediate Recipient” and that it must be “not licensed under GPLv3 or a Similar License”. free software proponents Groklaw have called the covenant “radioactive” and “worthless”, although Novell, Inc. is enthusiastic.

Our Campaign is just a Continuation of Campaign for Document Freedom and Campaign for Open standards in general and Ongoing Campaign against software patents .  The posting mela on FSF-Friends & FSF-Bangalore only shows some of them does not have enough exposure in Free Software. At least they must understand Novell- Microsoft partnership hazardous to free software community compared to Indo-US nuclear deal  to India

Boycott Novell campaign in CUSAT : The Process

While we came to know about Novell’s role in Software as a Platinum sponsor, we were too sad because it was not communicated earlier /through event website & we all are working for the success of Conference (I am a programme committee member, Swathanthra Malayalam Computing is a supporting Organisation, Shyam, me and Hiran were speakers , We all are planning to conduct a Free Software Film festival inside conference). On that night we (Hiran Venugopalan, Unni, Shyam Narayanan, VK Adarsh, Me ) Planned how to raise this issue without affecting the Conference. The major reason for our concern was the newbies in the conference. Novell is the Only GNU/linux company name mentioned in the Conference. since it is organised with the silent support of CPIM (You can understand it simply by going through schedule) a lot of people from Employee Unions, Students Unions, teachers Unions etc were participated in the event. Our intention is to protect these people being misguided by Novell. Novell was mainly promoting their fork of OpenOffice 3.0 (after they implemented notorious OOXML support & forked it after OOO3 moved to  to LGPLv3)& SUSE in their stall. Most of the participants in the Conference were newbies and Novell is the only GNU/Linux distro widely promoted in the exhibition. Our protest is not targeted at Organizers or Novell. It was just a way to spread awareness on Novell’s evil trends through the posters to protect  new users  being misguided.

Thats why we prepared the charge sheet. We communicated the idea to few friends like Sameer Thahir from Ilug cochin on same night itself and communicated the idea. and he offered full support. We considered it as a Corrective measure taken by the free software Community towards the proper success of a Free Software community event.

On second day morning we reached early (by 8.30 )in Computer centre and prepared charge sheet. Unni created some wonderful posters, with the help of hiran. Arky joined us in the lab and also given some more poster inputs (A Chameleon changing to Windows logo colors) . And Jefry & me printed and photostat to A3 from TD Junction.

The Campaign.

We started posting at the Big Flex which displays programme list (also features Novell Logo, them Moved to Indian Coffee House, and posted some posters. Coloured the Logo “MICROVELL” and moved near Open Air Auditorium and posted Posters on Trees and some walls also in front of the state. (See Photos credit: Hiran Venugopalan)

Lot of people asked us about the campaign and we explained the reasons. All them were satisfied with our reply. Pramode sir, Renjith (IT public) , Jaisen(SMC), suresh, some more students from GEC Thrissur & MES (also volunteers of FSUG Thrissur/ SSUG Malappuram) etc joined with us. Vikram Vincent, who is sending abusive mails now also joined us while putting Poster in Front of the Open air State. (Removed as per the request of Vikram Vincent)

[youtube]http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=lhATFqM0Tng[/youtube]

We posted another set of Posters on the gate of Kunjali Marakkar Campus. Out side the entrance of Exhibition there was a Banner of Novell. We posted the Microvell Poster and ‘Novell in Trash’ Poster along with the charge sheet on it without Blocking the content in the poster. Then Novell stall Owners came out asked us to remove the poster. I said If Organizers have issues in the content of the poster let them tell it publicly. And One person with Organizer badge (visible in video ) came and asked us to remove the poster. I said, this is just a protest against novell’s anti Free Software Practices. If You have issues, you remove it. And the organizers changed the Flex. See the video ( we never said we will post 10 posters if poster is removed . People like anil, Joseph Thomas and Haynes Davis are using the Goebbelsian tactics  in mailing lists and blogs to make it as truth. But Luckily we had the video taken in Mobile. Thanks to Hiran). The Novell stall Owner visible in the video used the Checkmate response to the organizers.They will not pay if the poster is not removed

[youtube]http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=JMz4S9Cwr_w[/youtube]

Then we posted charge sheet opposite to the wall of Novell’s stall. We never posted anything on their stall. It was removed just after we fixed it. But we didn’t raised any opposition. Some people from Focus Computers stall was arguing with hiran about the issues with Novell.

When moving to ILUG Cochin Stall, Hiran & Unni already reached there and distributing posters to MES Students. Most of them are well aware about Free Software . Manu & Friends were posting these posters on their stall. Jaisen, Unni & me moved to ILUG Cochin stall and put posters with the help of prinson. Then Dr.M.Bhasi came and pulled me from stall. I asked him to dont touch on body and communicate with Stall Owners. ILUG Cochin people said it is the campaign they are supporting. Then Dr. M Bhasi argued Organizers approval is needed for each posters on the stall and pulled me again. Shyam Hiran etc were distributing a poster saying “we support Boycott Novell Campaign” to Other stalls. Dr. Bhasi Threatened us saying he will through us out of the campus. and called security & police.

Me & Unni said we are ready to go out if you can point at least one critique to any one point in Charge sheet. Otherwise it will be the denial of freedom of expression of Free Software Activists.

I called - Anilkumar K V from OSS, One of the Organizer at that time and informed the situation asked him to Intervene. But He refused and said Dr. M. Bhasi (see Photo)will do the needed. Then I noticed a Team of SFI People from Cochin University Student Union under the leadership of Deepak from Cochin University Research Scholars Association(CURSA) also standing behind Dr. Bhasi and roaring at us. Since I studied on same campus and I am familiar with the dynamics of the campus violence by these people. So the better way is to move with the security people. Dr. Bhasi was continued shouting and one more person with him visible in this photo caught my Tshirt’s neck.

Then security people came and separated me from the team and manhandled. SFI people were behind security persons and trying to hit me by shouting who are you to protest in our programme. I got 2-3 hits on my back. People like Hiran & Unni were also treated badly in the crowd. Arky & some students from MES & GEC were taking photos.

Just after reaching back near Open Air Auditorium, people like arun, vimal, Hussain Master (rachana) and informed the incidents. Arun, Anilkumar from IT mission went to Kunjali Marakkar campus for discussion. By this time I got Updates from MES friends that Their posters were forcefully removed from stall and Videos and photos on their mobile phones are deleted.

UPDATE: Freedom of Expression cant be prevented using Muscle power

MES Students recovered forcefully deleted videos from their mobile phones. See the videos below

The first video. You can see i am in phone and asking anilkumar kv to intervene to solve the issue

Second video is without sound. buy you can see Deepak from CURSA leading SFI students

Rest is in Arun’s mail to FSF-Friends

I feel people destroyed the event is the Organisors like Mr. Bhasi from SMS, CUSAT, Deepak from CURSA, Anilkumar K V from OSS, who refused to act on a Crucial time. People who does not have enough exposure on Free Software Politics is made a small campaign as a Big issue through the denial of Freedom of Expression and Giving Weightage to Novell’s Concerns over Free Software Community Concerns.

UPDATE II:

• Mail From RMS

I recived a mail from RMS  (Richard mathew Stallman) , the  founder of Free Software movement. He says

First of all, congratulations on being the first free software activist
to be physically attacked  for a peaceful protest.
This means our movement is gaining in stature ;-).

He also commented about our campaign strategy

me> Most of the participants in the Conference were newbies and Novell is
me> the only GNU/Linux distro widely promoted in the exhibition. Our
me> protest is not targeted at Organizers or Novell. It was just a way to
me> spread awareness on  Novell’s evil trends  through the posters  to
me> prevent Novell’s misguiding new users

That’s the right way to approach it.

• ILUG Cochin’s Event Report

ILUG Cochin Released an Event Report about the event. The event Report says

The series of events that happened was bad in terms of the organizers
taking an unnecessary tough stand on the matter and not lending an ear to
the actual facts.

We were happy to raise our voice and protest with the
Free Software community opposing the likes of forces like Novell. Indeed
it was good to see a resistance in a programme of such magnitude like the
National Conference. Although there is no doubt to the fact that the
conference did its job, bringing people from all walks of life and ILUG
Cochin did the job telling people the principles behind it, the opposition
against Novell has also increased the significance and importance of the
event thereby bringing about a lot of questions into the community which
would not have been raised otherwise.

• SMC’s Statement

<snip>

Members from SMC were part of the Programme Committee and the Souvenir Committee. There were no indication that Novell was the platinum sponsor of this Free Software Event. The organisers never communicated about the sponsorship and thus betrayed the whole Free Software community as Novell did. This is evident from the incidents that occurred after the peaceful campaign to boycott Novell by the SMC members & other Free Software Supporters present at the meeting.

</snip>

<snip>

SMC takes this opportunity to deeply condemn the organisers decision to include Novell into the Free Software event. SMC urges the organisers of the event to aplogize to the community on this dreadful alliance with the notorious Novell Corporation and the way the organisers treated Free Software Campaigners.

</snip>

I am starting an FAQ to answer questions aimed at me in various mailing list. I will update this post by including new Questions and answers.

Q: Who Organised National Conference on Free Software what was your role in it?

A: National Conference on Free Software was Organised by Cochin University of Science and Technology(CUSAT), Appropriate Technology Promotion Council(ATPS), IT@School Project of Kerala Government, Open software Solutions and Industrial Cooperation (OSSIC). They also invited other groups supporting the Free Software cause such as KSSP, KSEB, Indian Linux User Group Cochin , Swathanthra Malayalam Computing(SMC) etc to be part of Various committees to support the Conference. I was included on programme committee representing Swathanthra Malayalam Computing(SMC). We made some suggestions like removal of Anand Parthasarathy from Meet the Personnel section (He is a pro-patent, pro-proprietary gadget reviewer well known in Free Software Circles as a person spreading Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt about Free Software) and suggested some rearrangements in schedule and including new people. Few of them were accepted but changing of people like Anand was not possible due to pressure from some organizers who does not have much exposure in free software.

Q. what are your activities in National Free Software Conference? Why you didn’t Organised protest in First day

A: We were invited as speakers and resource persons to conference and too busy with a lot of stuff. We were too busy on First day with Localisation Track on Computer center, Localisation of swathanthra Software session in Photonics department, meeting friends in the sidelines. Anil already aware that we were completed speaker registration by 7.30 PM . We were noticing Novell’s platinum sponsorship banners in Open air stage during evening plenary & sitaram Yechuries Speech.

Q. Are you a member of FSF India. The event website’s speaker list lists you as a member of FSF India

Q: It is without my Knowledge. After jayakumar pointed it in the sidelines of the conference , I communicated with  joby . In my presentation, He introduced me as a member of SMC and Movingrepublic

On behalf of the organizers, Free Software Users Group- Bangalore
cordially invites you to

The National Public Meeting on Software Patents

Venue

2nd Floor, Ecumenical Resource Centre,
United Theological College,
Millers Road, Benson Town.
(Behind Cantonment Railway Station)
Bangalore–560046
Google Map

Time

10:00–17:00
Saturday, October 4, 2008

Software patents in India occupy a contentious and indeterminate legal space. While recent amendments to the Patent Act have sought to bring our law in conformity with WTO-mandated standards, these amendments have shied from pronouncing conclusively on the patentability of software. The result is an equivocation in the law which is being wrestled aggressively and effectively by corporate interests, patent attorneys and the Patent Office in favour of granting software patents. Unheard, and so unrepresented in this powerful triad are the interests of millions of citizen-consumers who are either presumed too ignorant to be credited with a view on the issue, or are presumed to be irrelevant to the determination of issues which are seen as purely “business” matters (as opposed to “citizen” matters).

Software is everywhere you look (and many places you never think of looking). With the explosion of low-cost computing devices (think mobile phones and iPods), software has leaked out of its traditional home—the PC—and begun infiltrating various aspects of our lives. From traffic signals to toilet commodes in some countries, refrigerators to railway tickets, vacuum cleaners and electronic voting machines, TVs, refrigerators and electronic pacemakers, inanimate objects of all sizes are humming to themselves, chattering amongst themselves in an intricate, highly complex tongue called ‘software’ that few of us can ever hope to understand. On the impulses of software, we stop or move on streets, fill up on petrol, and elect governments. Someone’s heart beats. Someone else receives land records on a village kiosk. Someone is standing by helplessly for fourteen years (the un-evergreened term of a patent) because software failed to factor in her disability.

There are big stakes involved in the control of software in an era when software is becoming increasingly central to the way we humans organize our lives and inhabit a democracy. At one level this is about preserving the right of agency and self-direction that citizens have in their own lives. At another, it is about the right not to be silenced when our long-fought democratic republic is at risk of being diminished by a few lines of software in a machine. Whether or not we are all in fact capable of deciphering software is inessential. Those of us who are ought not to be denied the freedom to interrogate, tinker and improve.

Patents have the effect of adding an additional layer of ‘protection’ to already existing copyright protection of software, while simultaneously overriding the various affordances and safeguards built into copyright law. For instance, the right of “fair dealing” under copyright law permits users to examine and modify any software in order to make it interoperable with other software. This is an extremely potent right that reasserts our right to intervene in the shaping of our surroundings. It is also one of the rights that is most imperiled by software patents.

The present “public hearing” on software patents is an invitation for dialogue on the various issue surrounding software patents. Although the Patent Office had scheduled a public consultation on its Draft Patent Manual to be held in Bangalore in August this year, that meeting was abruptly cancelled (or postponed indefinitely, or to an unannounced date—we can’t be sure) without any reasons having been assigned by the Patent Office. This signals either of two unpleasant scenarios: first, the Patent Office is proceeding with its consultations in an extremely mechanical fashion, not intending inputs received in the course of these consultations to qualitatively impact their functioning in any way; or secondly, perhaps the Patent Office underestimates the amount that citizens living in the IT capital of India might have to say on the subject of software patents.

It is our attempt in this public hearing to organize the kind of consultation that the Indian Patent Office ought to have conducted. We hope also hereby, to serve as a gentle but firm reminder to the Patent Office that its task is as yet undone.

Agenda

See  CIS website for schedule 

Organisers

Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore

Free Software Users Group, Bangalore

Free Software Foundation of India

SPACE, Trivandrum

IT for Change, Bangalore

Alternative Law Forum

Delhi Science Forum

Movingrepublic

Sarai/CSDS, Delhi

OpenSpace, Bangalore

Swathanthra Malayalam Computing

Servelots - Janastu, Bangalore

Mahiti, Bangalore

DeepRoot Linux, Bangalore

Wiki Ocean, Pune

Turtle Linux Lab, Bangalore

Aneka, Bangalore

Zyxware Technologies, Trivandrum

INSAF(Indian Social Action Forum)