Re: looks like it's happening everywhere but the US.

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003, Tom Adelstein wrote:

> Another point, I don't think the US is moving toward OSS also - like 
> other countries - but instead my research indicates we've been their 
> before anyone else. Certainly Richard Stallman was the first one doing 
> it and before him, DARPANET and ARPANET (now the Internet) passed OSS 
> around as early as the 1960's.

  Question for you to ponder:  Is the USA the home to many of the worlds
most vocal FLOSS advocated because the USA as a country and its government
promotes these values/methodologies, or because there was a need first in
the USA to counter largely domestic opponents to FLOSS?


  The whole question of FLOSS vs "software manufacturing" only dates to 
the 1960's, and obviously no government had formed a position at that 
early stage.
  http://www.flora.ca/copyright2003/section92.html#history

  What governments did in the 1960's to 1980's isn't an adequate
reflection of what their current domestic and foreign policies are given
the infancy of the software sector being separated from the hardware
sector. It wasn't until the 1980's that the USPTO started to accept
software patents and in various other ways to pick sides in policy on
"software manufacturing" vs FLOSS and other non-manufacturing
methodologies.
  http://www.flora.ca/patent2003/

> I don't want to seem argumentative, but "other countries" aren't the 
> reference point.

  I too don't want to seem argumentative but if what you say is to have
meaning it needs to be reflected US foreign policy. If you wish the USA to
be viewed this positive way you should probably communicate with the US
Trade Representative and the US Patent and Trademark Office.  Each have
positions strongly opposing FLOSS in the international arena.  Those of us
not in the USA are not going to be as concerned about what happened
domestically in the past as what representatives of your country are
trying to do today using US foreign policy leverage.

  It is far more important to know what direction someone is moving than
where they previously stood.

  Whether the issue is software patents, WIPO's meeting on "Open
collaborative models for the production of public goods", or WSIS attempt
to promote FLOSS as methodologies to help reduce the digital divide, it is
representative of the US government which are the largest and most vocal
opponents to FLOSS.
  http://www.flora.ca/copyright2003/section92.html#wsis


  I look forward to the leadership that may be seen by citizens in the USA
eventually being reflected in the foreign policy exported by the US
government.  It would be great to eventually have the influence of US
foreign policy on our side rather than our opponents side.

---
 Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/> 
 Governance software that controls ICT, automates government policy, or
 electronically counts votes, shouldn't be bought any more than 
 politicians should be bought.  -- http://www.flora.ca/russell/