Originally Published in the Manila Bulletin, October 24, 2004.
Archive Here. Authored by Alex Timbol, Maccess Corporation
Consumers' Post
Ethel Timbol
SAY NO TO SOFTWARE PIRACY
Up to 72% of the software in local computers is pirated, according to the Business Software Alliance, an industry watchdog composed of leading commercial software vendors. With Office applications selling for up to twenty five thousand pesos per user license, and illegal copies at fifty pesos, it is tempting to use pirated software.
But what if I told you that there is a FREE legal alternative to pirated commercial software? And what if I told you that this is compatible with your existing computer? And that this is as good as, if not better, than commercial software, and is used by millions of people worldwide?
Welcome to the world of Open Source, where quality software is free.
Open Source software is a child of the Internet age: The result of millions of volunteers working together to create a public collection of quality software. CNN, in its technology forecast, cites Open Source as a leading trend for 2004.
Indeed, the world?s most successful e-Businesses: AOL-TimeWarner, Yahoo!, Amazon, & eBay build their businesses on it, crediting Open Source for their ability to rapidly develop new online products. Amazon's Chief Techie Al Vermeulen, revealing the secret to his IT strategy, states unequivocally that companies should "embrace Open Source."
The world's largest technology companies: IBM, Hewlett-Packard, SUN, Intel, Apple, & others support Open Source. IBM and HP are the largest enterprise integrators of Open Source solutions and their massive data centers, including several in the Philippines, run almost exclusively on Open Source.
Archive Here. Authored by Alex Timbol, Maccess Corporation
Consumers' Post
Ethel Timbol
SAY NO TO SOFTWARE PIRACY
Up to 72% of the software in local computers is pirated, according to the Business Software Alliance, an industry watchdog composed of leading commercial software vendors. With Office applications selling for up to twenty five thousand pesos per user license, and illegal copies at fifty pesos, it is tempting to use pirated software.
But what if I told you that there is a FREE legal alternative to pirated commercial software? And what if I told you that this is compatible with your existing computer? And that this is as good as, if not better, than commercial software, and is used by millions of people worldwide?
Welcome to the world of Open Source, where quality software is free.
Open Source software is a child of the Internet age: The result of millions of volunteers working together to create a public collection of quality software. CNN, in its technology forecast, cites Open Source as a leading trend for 2004.
Indeed, the world?s most successful e-Businesses: AOL-TimeWarner, Yahoo!, Amazon, & eBay build their businesses on it, crediting Open Source for their ability to rapidly develop new online products. Amazon's Chief Techie Al Vermeulen, revealing the secret to his IT strategy, states unequivocally that companies should "embrace Open Source."
The world's largest technology companies: IBM, Hewlett-Packard, SUN, Intel, Apple, & others support Open Source. IBM and HP are the largest enterprise integrators of Open Source solutions and their massive data centers, including several in the Philippines, run almost exclusively on Open Source.
Even Apple junked its old MacOS, in favor of the Open Source based futuristic MacOS X, proving that even traditional tech companies can benefit from Open Source.
These industry leaders do more than promote Open Source software, they also contribute substantially: Donating funds, resources, and "Opening" programs to the movement.
AmericaOnLine contributed the code-base of Netscape, which has since evolved to the Mozilla and Firefox Web Browsers. Leading publications praise Firefox, citing high performance, improved security, and advanced features missing from built-in Web Browsers.
SUN contributed the code base of StarOffice, the foundation of the wildly popular OpenOffice.org
With over seven million downloads, the free OpenOffice, available in dozens of languages, is fast becoming a global standard in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
In the Philippines, thousands of small and medium sized companies are adopting Open Source software. And why not? Workstations & office servers can be installed without expensive software licenses.
Even major businesses are migrating to Open Source software: One financial services conglomerate reportedly saved BILLIONS by shifting to Open Source software.
With this groundswell of support for Open Source software, we can't help but wonder why the Department of Education is pushing computers with expensive commercial software to school teachers.
For half DepEd's price of P25,000 ($490), any competent computer shop can sell a similar white box PC with an Open Source operating system and applications.
Prefer a commercial operating system? Add a commercial operating system for P5,000 (USD 90), and use Open Source applications for a price that's still below DepEd's offering.
But that's really missing the point, if Filipinos are going to develop IT skills, why are we limiting ourselves to training teachers and students to be USERS of commercial software? Are we trying to create software developers, or data clerks and typists?
Open Source software gets its name from the fact that program blueprints, or "Source" are OPEN-ly available. The part of software that runs is called the binary. Only computers understand it.
Commercial software includes only the binary, while the "Source" remains a tightly guarded secret of its publisher.
With Open Source, inquisitive teachers & students may examine a program's Source to learn how it works, and even try their hand at adding new features. Modifying commercial software is illegal, and impossible without access to the source code. With Open Source, technology transfer is assured, and the country trains software developers.
Vietnam, which launched its own low-cost PC initiative, actively endorses Open Source to its educators. Apart from the lower cost of the Vietnam PC, they are also quite clear on why they chose Open Source: It allows users to learn how it is made and commercial software does not. Perhaps Sec. Abad should look into this and seek the advice of NGOs promoting Open Source.
Of all the government agencies, only the Department of Science and Technology has been waving the Open Source flag. The DOST endorses it because they see it as a way for the government to save billions in taxpayers' money. They have even created a version of the Open Source Linux OS, called Bayanihan Linux.
Open Source saves money not only because the software is free, but also because it runs perfectly well on five years old junk PCs in government office stockrooms.
And because Open Source solutions do not require money, Open Source databases, web servers, online transaction systems, and info kiosks may be implemented without having to go through the lengthly process of requesting a budget from our already cash strapped government.
With Open Source, even barangay halls can be computerized, and many government agencies, including some GOCCs would no longer be loss makers, bringing us one step closer to solving the budget deficit.
So much can be saved that the Government of the State of California is shifting to Open Source to help solve its deficit. It is even suing giant commercial software companies (dismissed August 2005)for what it describes as "overcharging." As Gov. Arnold says: "Hasta la Vista, Baby!"
Unfortunately, despite potential savings & productivity gains running to billions, & the promise of faster IT empowerment, many government agencies are reluctant to adopt Open Source, and some are even actively opposing it.
The DTI's Software Patents proposal is one example. Developed in conjunction with commercial software associations, provisions in DTI's version have been rejected in similar proposals in the US, Europe, & Australia as detrimental to Open Source.
DTI's Intellectual Property Office would have us believe that Software Patents are needed to protect software developers. This is nonsense. Commercial software, like this newspaper, is already protected by COPYRIGHT. (As of 2006, the IPO has adopted the European position of NO PATENTS ON SOFTWARE.)
Software Patents are like a newspaper asking to patent the news to protect it from "free" radio, TV, and Internet news. Well, we've had to work a little bit harder, but this 104-year old newspaper has prospered despite "free" radio, TV, and Internet news, and we've done it without having to patent the news! Copyright works just fine.
So it puzzles me that, unlike the governments of Germany, France, Italy, UK, Israel, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, & Vietnam which have adopted policies PROMOTING Open Source, our government is endorsing expensive commercial software to our children's teachers, proposing laws to cripple Open Source, and continuing to spend BILLIONS on commercial software. Hey, that's our money! Let's try to save some of it!
Please, Madame President, Governors, and Mayors: Say "Hasta la Vista, Baby!" to bureaucrats advocating expensive commercial software! Please see through thinly veiled attempts to block Open Source! The best way to end Software Piracy is to promote free Open Source software.
Start at http://www.opensource.org/ to learn more. Read the "Halloween Documents," essays on unsuccessful, yet continuing, attempts to undermine Open Source. Read news reports, case studies, and how governments worldwide are adopting Open Source.
Follow links to find out which Open Source software is the equivalent of your commercial software, then follow these easy steps to try it out yourself:
First, understand that there is no need to erase your hard drive to use it. It runs on the operating system in your computer right now and can be installed alongside your existing software.
Next, obtain a copy of the Open Source software. Open Source developers, e.g. mozilla.org and OpenOffice.org, provide download links. If you don't have an Internet connection, obtain a copy from local Open Source Software & Open Minds Associations. Groups in major schools and universities also distribute the software.
Finally, run the installer & try out the software. Try out its ability to open and save existing files. See how well it handles them. Try out the interface. Open Source software follows the standards of the operating system they work on. If you already use commercial software, then you should feel at home with open source software.
Consider installing it on your office and home computers.
Teach your kids how to use it. Try TuxType, a free typing tutor. Try all the different varieties. Ever wanted to do photo editing and illustration? Try the Graphic Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP, then try Inkscape, Dia, and Blender 3D, and see how useful your computer really is.
Top schools: UP, Ateneo, La Salle, Mapua, AIM, and others, are shifting to Open Source and encouraging students to do so. Familiarizing kids now will help them later on.
If you have already purchased commercial software, you may un-install it, put it back into its original box, and sell it to raise money. Moreover, once you've expunged commercial software, you'll no longer worry about software asset management. With Open Source software, it's just install and forget.
If you've been running pirated software, now is a good time to remove it. Using pirated commercial software is illegal, and exposes you and your business to criminal liability.
If even your operating system is pirated, purchase a license with the money saved with Open Source applications. With a licensed OS & open source applications, you've gone legal at a minimal cost to you and your business. (Filipino made open source business software here.)
You may even consider shifting to an Open Source OS, such as Linux, and never worry about software fees again.
If you are happy with Open Source software, and ecstatic about the money saved, then help spread the message.
A CD of Open Source software compiled yourself costs a few pesos, yet is an excellent Christmas gift to anyone with a computer. Give copies to friends, nearby businesses, the local public school, barangay office, local government, and even the local church.
With free Open Source software, not only are you permitted to copy, distribute, and install Open Source software, but you are ENCOURAGED to do so.
Additional Resources:
Global Perspectives on Open Source (.pdf file)
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