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[3 November 2004]
Founder of Free Software Movement presented on free
software and patents at Singapore Management University
The seminar was a collaboration between
UNDP-APDIP International Open Source Network and SMU School
of Information Systems
Richard M. Stallman, the founder of the
free software movement, was at the Singapore Management University
(SMU) on 1 November, Monday, to deliver a talk on “Free
Software Movement and Patents”.
The free software movement is about the
freedom to use, modify, and distribute software. In his talk,
Mr Stallman highlighted the negative impacts and implications
of the current patent practices and policies to software
development.
Following Mr Stallman's lecture, there was
also a discussion panel moderated by SMU's School of Information
Systems (SIS). The panel also comprised Mr Harish Pillay,
Chief Technology Architect, Red Hat Asia Pacific, and Mr
Sunil Abraham, Manager, International Open Source Network
(IOSN).
The seminar was a collaboration between
United National Development Programme-Asia-Pacific Development
Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP) International Open Source
Network and SIS.
“We are indeed excited for this rare
opportunity and honour to have Mr Richard Stallman at SMU
to enlighten us on free software, thanks to the collaboration
with IOSN. As an educational and research institution, SIS
promotes the awareness and understanding of various industries'
best practices, methodologies, and technology platforms.
This is key to prepare our students as business sensitive
and technologically competent professionals, as well as for
SIS to deliver research projects which have an industry impact.
SIS is pleased to bring in renowned speakers and practitioners
to the business and IT communities in Singapore and to provide
a platform for knowledge sharing and business networking,” said
Dr Shum Kam Hong, Practice Associate Professor, SIS.
“As a centre of excellence for free/open
source software, UNDP-APDIP International Open Source Network
(IOSN) is grateful to Mr Richard Stallman and SIS for this
opportunity to mainstream the critique of patents. We believe
the current patent regime sharpens the economic divide, blocks
access to life-saving medicines, stifles innovation, ignores
traditional knowledge systems, and halts the progress of
free/open source software,” said Mr Sunil Abraham,
Manager, UNDP-APDIP International Open Source Network (IOSN).
Richard Stallman also founded the GNU project
(1984), the Free Software Foundation (1985), and the League
for Programming Freedom. Through his introduction of the
widely- used GPL (General Public Licence) for software, there
are estimated to be some 20 million users of GNU/Linux systems
today.
About United Nations Development
Programme Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme
(UNDP-APDIP)
The Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP)
is an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) that aims to promote the development and application
of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
for poverty alleviation and sustainable human development
in the Asia-Pacific region. ( www.apdip.net )
UNDP-APDIP International Open Source
Network
The International Open Source Network (IOSN), which is an
initiative of UNDP's Asia-Pacific Information Development
Programme, is a Center of Excellence for Free and Open Source
Software in the Asia Pacific Region. ( www.iosn.net ) |
