Re: [Fsfe-uk] Linux User & Developer Expo

[Marc Eberhard]

On Mon, Apr 26, 2004 at 06:37:01PM +0100, Roger Leigh wrote:
> Could AFFS do more to advocate users of free software (particularly
> companies) make contributions to the development of the software that
> they depend on?  I'm thinking of things like this:
> 
> - Financial donations to specific individuals/projects
> - Donation of equipment
> - Donations of employee time and expertise
>   (have you got your employer to disclaim copyright on work on free
>    software, or assign it to the FSF?)
> - Employing free software programmers to work on free software

It's mainly a question of finding someone to do the actual work. There are
lots of good things, we could do, if we only had a few more people being
able to invest some time. We are clearly more limited in terms of volunteers
than we are in financial terms.

> One argument that could be used it that given the savings the company
> makes by using free software over proprietary alternatives, could part
> of that saving be donated to free software projects?

Sure. Do you volunteer to get this started?

On Mon, Apr 26, 2004 at 09:43:52PM +0100, Tom Chance wrote:
> On Monday 26 Apr 2004 15:43, Richard Smedley wrote:
> > The other expo, this autumn, has a similar debate -
> > we should act soon to get Free Software represented
> > on the panel.
> 
> I agree. It'd also be good if there could be a talk from an AFFS person, 
> alongside all the presentations about the potential of Open Source in 
> business, etc. if only to confuse PHBs with a slideshow that doesn't mention 
> "strategy" or "syngery" ;-)
> 
> And if nobody else volunteers, I'd be happy to do it, just so this doesn't 
> get 
> bounced around and nothing happens.

I think, you have the job. :-) Thanks for volunteering!!! Seriously, I fully
agree, that we need to be more present at talks and events. Even if it is
only one person in the audience asking some questions or even better someone
giving a presentation.

Thanks,
Marc
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