WebMink

FISL: A Government that Gets It

I'm sitting in a huge hall in Porto Alegre, Brazil, listening to Brazil's Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil (himself a famous musician), talking about his intent to turn Brazil into a hub for the world's free software and a pioneer of the enrichment of the creative commons. The room is full - thousands of software developers are listening. The conference is FISL, the 5th International Forum on Free Software (SL - Software Livre). It's inspiring, entertaining, and most important it is creating policy for Brazil's future. At the end of the session, Gil will sign a document placing his newest song under the newest Creative Commons license, 'Recombo' (granting sampling rights to other musicians).
At the same time, I have just read comments by Microsoft's representative Emilio Umeoka directly criticising the President of Brazil for promoting free software:
"I don't know if this is the best way to attract investment into the country. I know this is not the best way to create a base of development from which to export because there's no revenue from something free."
The irony (not to mention the arrogance) is striking. As I have commented before, people who say this sort of thing just don't understand where the world is going. Listening to the (many) government speakers at this conference (match that, OSCON) speaking in favour of F/OSS software development, it's become clear to me that the issue for them is not about money.
They understand the real issue - it's about sovereignty. They no longer want to funnel Brazil's wealth abroad when they have a growing and excellent software community of their own. They want local people to provide service and write software for the government and industry. They want local skills to enrich the F/OSS world and build exportable skills. They have a vision for how to both enrich the culture and skills of their country while creating a power-house for the export of services in the future. They get it. Emilio Umeoka doesn't.
[Other Brazil posts: Java Everywhere, WIPO, Smooth, Drinks, In Translation]

posted at 8:48 PM (UK) | |

Comments:

More governments need to promote F/OSS, it adds directly to the public good. The Green Party of Canada endorses F/OSS in their current platform, which is a start I guess...

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# posted by Anonymous : 7:48 AM

Green Parties responses to the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic.

-- Robin Millette

# posted by Anonymous : 9:07 AM

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# posted by Anonymous : 11:29 AM

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# posted by Anonymous : 5:12 PM

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# posted by Anonymous : 6:30 PM

Three postings removed per house rules - I'll be happy to reinstate them if the owners care to identify themselves to me.

S.

# posted by webmink : 3:51 AM

One thing that needs to be understood about Brazil, my country (though currently I live in US), is that there is a huge distance between intention and actually making things happens. "Promessa não enche barriga!" (Promises don't fill your belly!), brazilians say.

While I do hope they do get the OSS thing going - especially in the government, that could use the money paid for software licenses in many other better ways - I will only believe it when I see it.

And mind that nothing prevents the next administration of going back in this decision. And I'm sure that Microsoft and other parties will try to buy their way into keeping the non-OSS model going strong - either by agressive pricing OR buy buying the right people in the right places...

Sad, but true.

# posted by C.E. : 3:04 PM

CE: I understand that, truly. It's clearly a high-stakes game, but the more commitment steps that are taken, the more real it becomes. I recommend the Migration Guide that was launched at FISL, I really think it will make a difference.

# posted by webmink : 3:28 PM

Hi, i work in a great brazilian company called Serpro (http://www.serpro.gov.br/). This company provides software to brazilian's government,is a state-owned company, and what i have to say to you is very good: THE Lula government just want OSS!!!!!!

Viva o Software Livre!!!

# posted by Anonymous : 7:02 AM

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# posted by cyntia_bimbo : 7:43 PM

http://photo-erotique.blogspot.com/

# posted by cyntia_bimbo : 9:34 PM