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Open SourceFree and open source software is an integral part of social justice. According to C. Sean Burns, “an information society can only be socially just if its peoples have the freedom to understand, learn, and master the tools that build that society’s infrastructure” (Burns, 2011. P.26).The paper highlights the importance of free and open source software (FOSS) and advances that it “supports an equitable, free, democratic and socially just community development” (Burns, 2011). This stand is supported by a host of FOSS proponents such as Doctor (1992), who defined information democracy as a sociopolitical system in which all people are guaranteed the right to benefit from access to information resources. Information is power and gives people the freedom to make choices.After reviewing several of the sites on the list provided for this assignment, I was captivated by the fervent campaign, noting how some of the proponents’ commitment to FOSS ideology helped me throughout my professional career. The ethos of many of these sites aims to “keep the power of the web in people’s hands” as well as “provide an opportunity for people to make their voices heard and to shape their own online lives” (Mozilla). Ubunthu, on the other hand, gives credit for its creation to the unmet IT needs of the “historically disadvantaged individuals,” whose skills it aims to enhance.The campaigners for open source, free software, and free and open source (Burns, 2011) proclaim that the notion of “free software” is based on four freedoms as follows:The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.This freedom is “a matter of the users’ freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software.” Richard Stallman, the inductee of the Internet Hall of Fame, further states that “a program is free software if users have all of these freedoms”?(Open source Initiative).Burns argues that the absence of the four freedoms, are due to the two giant computer corporations, Microsoft and Apple, which have dominated the web environment. He further states that their financial muscle has enabled them to establish copyright licensing a must when using software (Burns, 2011). In contrast to these freedoms, the giants have launched what Stallman calls “former Soviet Union style practices” in its attempt to have a firm grip on information placed guards to police what people copied on photocopiers. Stallman argues that this same motive for information control is prevalent in the United States, with the difference being economic, not political, as was in the former Soviet Union (Open Source).Furthermore, Stallman goes on to say that the copyright system grew up with printing, a technology he asserts is for mass-production copying. This fits in well with printing because it restricted only the mass producers of copies. “It did not take freedom away from readers of books” (). On the Debian platform, the organization has a “Social Contract that states that free redistribution of the license of a Debian component may not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution; the program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code; the license must allow modifications and derived works, respect for the integrity of the author's source code; there should be no discrimination against persons or groups; no discrimination against fields of endeavor and the license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software. For example, the license must not insist that all other programs distributed on the same medium must be free software and that the license must not contaminate other software (Debian. 1997). Here at the Permanent Mission of Malawi, as part of the United Nations member states family, we have a website for the Mission using the Jahia software. Founded in 2002, Jahia has grown and “has over 350 customers in more than?20 countries across the globe. Jahia Promotes an Innovative Business Model in the Professional Open Source World By pushing ahead community contributions through an innovative and stable business model (based on a "contribute or pay paradigm")” (Jahia. 2002). Additionally, Jahia “offers an ideal, scalable and performing platform for any professional J2EE developers in charge of innovative web-based projects” (Jahia. 2002). The software allows you to add any type of content, such as text, images, video, sound, etc. Through the software, 193 countries and UN entities have access to use of the site, in a safe environment.Lastly the software provides an efficient and strong Java open source content platform.“But nowadays, front end is king and is named “User Experience”. Jahia aims to provide the most advanced and fastest User Experience builder, the Jahia Studio on the market to develop all your web projects: Website, Intranet, Web and mobile applications.” The parent company, the United Nations, uses all these, although some of the more sophisticated tools like video are only available through links. (Jahia, 2002)Jahia is the?first Java open source composite content?platform which combines, among others, the first visual user experience builder on the market to accelerate web project development. It provides ready to deploy, but a fully customizable modules suite for generic requirements and has solid?Java open source frameworks. Through this software, the United Nations has been empowered to “create engaging social-enabled pages” and also “get more stuff done with Jahia Wise,” producing some of the life-changing messages for its world-wide outreach and advocacy work (Jahia 2002).In conclusion, the giants in the software industry, Microsoft and Apple, have led the development of software, but their continued control over the technology we use in our homes, schools and businesses has not been of communal benefit; they have been restrictive and even extended to monitor usage (Free Software Foundation). It is encouraging that the UN uses FOSS for its work of disseminating information about its global work in development and social justice.The research and reading of this article has expanded my knowledge of operating systems and the world of software. For example, through the GNU website, I learned that “free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech”, not as in “free beer.” There are, of course, both good and the bad aspects on both sides – propriety verses free and open source. While the corporations on the propriety side seek to keep their profits high through the selling on licenses for their products, this is being done at the expense of withholding information from people, and this, the open side believers, say among others perpetuates ignorance, puts power in the hands of license owners (Burns 2011). The restrictive end-user licenses agreements block socially just information democracy. They do not encourage further development of the softwares; which thereby inhibit the culture of learning. In order for the community to fully benefit and be empowered, these corporations must allow their products to be copied and modified as open source groups have done.BibliographyBurns, C.S. (2011, December). Social Justice and an Information Democracy with Free and Open Source software, Information, Society and Justice, 4(2), 19-22.About Jahia. (2002). In Jahia. Retrieved on July 9, 2013 from Ubunthu. (2004). In Ubunthu. Retrieved on July 7, 2013 from Mozilla. (1998). In Mozilla. Retrieved on July 7, 2013 from Media Monkey. (2010, December). In Media Monkey. Retrieved on July 8, 2013 from Free Software Foundation. (1998). In Free Software Foundation. Retrieved on July 7, 2013 from GNU Operating System (1984). In GNU Operating System. Retrieved on July 8, 2013 from Debian - The Open Source Definition. (1998). In The Open Source Initiative. Retrieved on July 8, 2013 from . About Creative Commons. (2001). In Creative Commons. Retrieved on July 8, 2013 from ................
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