FSUG-Bangalore:News/Free Software Activists Demand A National Policy Mandating Open Standards

From FSUG-Bangalore

FREE SOFTWARE USERS GROUP (FSUG), BANGALORE =

16th April 2007

For Immediate Release

[edit] Free Software Activists Demand A National Policy Mandating Open Standards

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India: Free Software Users Group – Bangalore and FOSS Community in India had organized a Candle Light Vigil in front of Town hall demanding a National policy mandating the use of Free Document Formats such as the Open Document Format for document storage and requesting the Government of India to appeal ISO approval of OOXML based on its no vote and comments.

The event also highlighted the organizations who voted for the broken standard OOXML in Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) voting against national interest. Several Software professionals, free software activists, students from RV College, BMS, and various people supporting the cause participated in the event.

“Very big voices like NASSCOM and Infosys that have not participated in even one meeting have voted irresponsibly. We fear that if such lobbying continues, academics and individuals like us will be put on the defensive, unless there is a policy in place,” said Nagarjuna G., professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, who was part of the technical committee of BIS. This committee alone identified 200-odd technical flaws in OOXML’s specifications and more than 1,000 others were identified internationally.

The protesters, called Microsoft's OOXML as a “banana standard” and carried placards with slogans that went “Infosys, NASSCOM, Wipro, TCS get well soon”, “ISO - No More Standards through the Backdoor!”

The candle light vigil urged following steps to users for achieving document freedom and urged all users to embrace it.

A Photo pool of the event is available at Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/kushaldas/sets/72157604562832040/

For More Details, Please visit http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Campaign_for_Document_Freedom

Contact: Anivar Aravind +91 9449009908 email: <anivar@movingrepublic.org>