OpenCafé

The guys at www.technologyforafrica.org planning a conference in Johannesburg in 2007 and would like to find out who is interested in such an event.

The site says:

We’re convinced that there should be web and technology growth in Southern Africa, so we’re really interested in getting together a bunch of leading, internationally respected speakers and thinkers from the industry to discuss what’s happening and what’s possible.

Some of the things we’d like you to get out of the conference:

• Hear international speakers and authors presenting in your own back yard.
• Discuss what the global web and technology opportunities are over the next 5 years
• Understand what technologies are making the biggest impact
• Thrash out how the web can positively play a role in the development of (Southern) Africa
• Create a fun, informative event where you can meet and interact with other people like you

Of course, there are loads more things that are important and that could be discussed, so this is why we’re asking for your feedback – we’re committed to a bottom up conference where you get value for money, you make new friends, and where you walk away inspired.

So if interested - visit their site and complete the form - and give the message on to those that might attend as well.

“If you support software patents, then you might as well claim ownership of the air you breathe. The idea is preposterous, we all breathe the same air. It is society’s responsibility to create laws that sustain healthy ‘air’ and corporate ethics that comply with those laws rather than distort them under the bastardized guise of innovation.” Gregory Rundlett

The OpenCafe team actively takes part in the work of FTISA (Freedom To Innovate South Africa).

A primary objective of FTISA is to create and defend a legislative environment in South Africa which is conducive to the development of an indigenous software sector, one in which software innovation and production is allowed to flourish and the benefits of FOSS to the developing economy which relies heavily on information technology is protected. Such an environment can only exist with a complete, comprehensive, legally robust and affordable enforcement of the existing exclusion of computer software from patentable subject matter in South Africa. By acting effectively, imaginatively and constructively within our national context we intend also to contribute to the efforts of those with similar objectives internationally. (To find out more click to visit the FTISA site.)

The recent agreement between Novell and Microsoft has highlighted the plight of all of those that are strongly against the use of software patents - one of them being Bruce Perens, the creator of the open source definition. Perens has an online petition signed already by 2266 people - many of whom also included very informative and also entertaining comments on software patents and related issues.

If you are new to the topic of software patents and how they influence the software industry - use the links above to find out more, if you are interested in contributing to the work of FTISA - visit the site or contact the OpenCafe team for more information.