Kerala?s FOSS (Free and Open Software Systems) initiative notched a free leg-up, perhaps unintentionally, from Microsoft India. Microsoft?s anti-piracy crackdown on personal computer vendors last week had the fast-growing IT-literate middle class suddenly sit up and take note of proprietary software.
Microsoft had made a similar inspection in Kerala two years ago. But this is the first such trip after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government announced, with Red Hat Inc, that the state was to be groomed as the country?s FOSS hub.
What was watchworthy was the VS Achuthanandan government?s efforts to skate on legally thin ice, without losing the FOSS flag that it was waving. For all Achuthanandan?s famed camaderie with free software guru, Richard Stallman, his police machinery amply co-operated with officials of Microsoft India, even helping them with raids on several vendors. About 10 pirated compact discs were seized, and a vendor was arrested. ?We acted on a legitimate complaint from Microsoft. That was all,? says Thiruvananthapruam city police commissioner, Revatha Chandrasekhar.
In short, the Kerala government was all out to radiate Microsoft?s warning that anyone using proprietary software without paying for it may have to pay a fine of up to Rs 20 lakh. ?The chief minister has nothing against Microsoft, only against proprietary software,? says Joseph Mathew, the CM?s IT advisor.
With their credibility taking a hit, PC dealers in Kerala are an angry lot. They blame the business model of proprietary software firms, who first cultivate hunger for a system, turning a blind eye to the costs. Once brand loyalty is established, they swoop with the bill and fine. ?One is often lured to walk on the wrong side of law, facing customer expectations,? says a PC dealer.
After the Microsoft move, open software activists in
Kerala now find more acceptability for their argument that the Indian Copyright Act, once
devised to ease knowledge dissemination, was being used to snap a lid on free flow of information.
The state?s education department, however, is making some strides in logging out proprietary software.
By August 2008, children in 12,500 high schools will be FOSS-efficient through a three-year plan, says state education minister MA Baby. IT@School has trained about 60,000 teachers on FOSS. The latest is BSNL, which is pampering these school FOSS users with broadband connection at soft rates.