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Re: Re: [simputer] Digest Number 51



On Fri, Apr 20, 2001 at 03:35:00PM -0400, Swapan Sarkar wrote:
> Will it be possible to webcast the launch of Simputer or at least
> store an archive copy so that it is accesible from the net. I  am
> sure the local linux group can help out in the infrastructure.

While I must congratulate the simputer projet on building the 
hardware and software, and striving to keep it open (all of which
are the goals I agree with), I also note that:

(a) It's not the first of its kind

http://www.compaq.com/products/quickspecs/10632_na/10632_na.HTML

so I'm not sure that the patents the project is seeking to gain will
hold up because of prior art.

(b) There is already an open source project supported by Compaq:

http://www.handhelds.org/ supporting Linux and NetBSD. Is the simputer
project collaborating with that project ?

(c) SGPL 

It seems to me that by dedicating a prominent section of the launch 
to the license, the project is seeking to present the license as an
important contribution of the project.

That raises several questions:

1. The legality of the action. It's a government funded project isn't it ?
   Therefore, it should be public domain, not SGPL'ed.

2. One of the stated goals is to make the platform popular. Is SGPL consistent
   with that goal ? Why aren't the Indian research projects in computer
   hardware being widely adopted by the industry ?

   I also note that the PC industry, which took off, once the specs became
   "open" (by Compaq and others who reverse engineered IBM's specs), continues
   to thrive because hardware vendors still have room for "value add". I'm
   not convinced that SGPL leaves enough room for that.

I don't wish to appear rude and readily acknowledge my ignorance and non
contribution to the project. But I think, this is a step in the wrong
direction given the direction in which the Indian economy is moving.

	-Arun