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PRODID:-//AT Content Types//AT Event//EN
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART:20090602T203000Z
DTEND:20090602T223000Z
DCREATED:20090528T174806Z
UID:ATEvent-9a5851383e1fe38b97bb28409b5627a7
SEQUENCE:0
LAST-MODIFIED:20090529T135223Z
SUMMARY:The State's Freedom and the People's Freedom\, as Users of Software
DESCRIPTION:Ottawa\, Canada - on Parliament Hill\, main steps. The tal
 k will be followed by informal discussion at the "Parliament Pub" Fami
 ly Restaurant across the street\, beginning at approximately 18\:30.  
 The Government of Canada is the largest software user in Canada.  In m
 ost cases\, it gives developers of the programs intolerable power over
  how the state uses public assets and how the state manages its own da
 ta\; in effect\, giving these developers (most of whom work for large 
 corporations\, most of which are foreign) power over the state's own c
 omputers\, in all their forms. Free/Libre software licensing is the wa
 y out of this bind. It gives the users control over their own computin
 g\, whether these users are government departments\, companies or  ind
 ividuals. The Government of Canada is also the largest funder of custo
 m software development in Canada. It is the largest employer of softwa
 re\ndevelopers\, and the organization with the largest number of softw
 are developers under contract. Canadian legislators should ensure that
  the\nsoftware paid for by the public is available for the public to u
 se in freedom\, by releasing it as Free/Libre software.  Richard Stall
 man will explain these issues\, as well as why the term "intellectual 
 property" is an incoherent over-generalization that should be complete
 ly shunned.  Richard Stallman\, is\nstopping in Ottawa for meetings wi
 th government and non-governmental officials. He is enroute back to MI
 T after receiving an honorary degree from Lakehead University\, Thunde
 r Bay.
LOCATION:Ottawa\, Canada
PRIORITY:3
TRANSP:0
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