For a little background, can you describe the general topic of your presentation and tell us what is new in the last few months?
I'll be talking about something a lot of people find rather intimidating and I want to prove Free Software licensing is nothing of the kind. My presentation will help people understand it's a field where plenty of help is available.
Can you give a summary of what you will present? Why should someone choose to come to your presentation?
I'd like to help people understand that licensing is not a black box or something to be afraid of. There's terrific benefits in Free Software, and with some simple understanding and processes we can ensure we get the most out of it.
How did you get involved in Free Software and in what way is it important to you?
I got involved in Free Software through a mixture of development and being concerned about fair access to emerging technologies.
These days I run pan-European legal and technical networks. These networks provide a communication forum for individuals, projects and businesses to share their experiences in Free Software licensing. I like to see myself as a facilitator. It's my job to help make connections, to help people understand the potential of Free Software, and to help solve problems if they occur.
Is there any other particular presentation you'll be going to? Why is that topic of interest?
I'm going to go to as many presentation and workshops as possible. I want to get to know people active in Scandinavian Free Software development on a personal level. While email and other digital communication methods are great, nothing beats sitting down with someone for ten minutes and getting to know each other.
By providing a common forum I believe FSCONS will play a significant part in the development of a more unified Free Software community in this part of Europe.
Where do you think the next big growth area for Free Software will be?
I think it's going to be embedded. While server and desktop markets are in a slow-growth phase, the embedded sphere is very exciting right now. A lot more people are adopting Free Software. This means a lot of interesting issues and surprises as new community members learn the ropes. It's dynamic.
Why should I as a developer transfer the copyright to FTF?
Ah, you mean FSFE's fiduciary programme. Let me contextualise. FSFE has a fiduciary programme where we can act as a legal guardian for a project. That means we can do stuff from a legal perspective while you focus on coding.
How do organisations like the FTF uphold the GPL?
I think it's perhaps better to say that we help ensure people are using the licence correctly. We want everyone to have fair and equal access to Free Software and we want all parties to respect the terms under which developers release it. I don't want to pain a negative picture about licensing. Where we encounter issues the most frequent resolution is friendly, timely and in good faith. It's our job to help point people in the right direction.
Its great to have you as a speaker at FSCONS and thanks for taking the time to do this interview!
Contact: coughlan@fsfeurope.org
Links:
Shane Coughlan page at FSCONS
