PRESS RELEASE: SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY 2005
September 10th is Software Freedom Day, a worldwide celebration of Free
and Open Source Software (FOSS). With a series of global events we want
to showcase the excellent range of FOSS now available and show how in
can be used to save money and gain freedom in every sector of the
information society.
Over 200 groups from over 60 countries will participate in this second
annual Software Freedom Day, by organising local events ranging from
simple meetings in the park to install-fests and 'SpeedGeeking' events.
The non-profit organisation Software Freedom International provides
guidance in organizing SFD and some material support, but the volunteer
teams around the world have done the bulk of the work and will put a
local spin on the day. For those who have not yet planned anything for
SFD it's not too late. Local groups simply organise their own events,
though official materials have now been allocated.
FOSS is licensed in such a way that it gives you the end user the right
to use it freely for private or commercial use. You also have the right
to inspect and even modify the underlying source code. You can give away
or even sell the original version you received or one with your
modification (though you may be required to pass on the changes you have
made). You are not required to pay royalties to previous developers.
FOSS is important even for those without interest in source code. The
release of the source allows external observers to inspect the true
functioning of the program, which means that you as the end user can be
confident that the program treats your private data with respect. You
(or someone else) can verify that your data is not being passed on
without your knowledge and you can be sure that your data will always be
accessible and not locked away in a proprietary format. Also, the
release of source code has in some cases spawned large communities of
volunteer developers who have in turn provided the world with highly
useful, and entirely free software such as Linux, OpenOffice, and
Mozilla. These communities can in turn foster local IT industries in
developing regions without the need for large up-front investments. The
freedom of software is important for everyone, not just software
developers.
Visit http://sfd05.org for details