[SC.LUG] [Fwd: [lugmaster] [Fwd: OS2 World: OS2 Petition update & 2nd Round]]

[Richard Smedley]

Not GNU/Linux, but it is Free Software, and I suspect there are a
few on this list with memories of OS/2?

 - Richard

-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: OS2 World Petition <listmaster at os2world.com>
Subject: OS2 World: OS2 Petition update & 2nd Round
Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:10:25 +0100



Malmö, 7 december 2007: More than two years ago on September 25, 2005,
we sent IBM a letter with a petition that contained 11,613 signatures
requesting IBM to release the source code of Operating System 2 (OS/2
Warp) - or at least release the source code that IBM owns - to the
public under an open source license. Sadly IBM was ignorant enough to
not answer our first letter and this is why we sent a second letter to
IBM. 

On November 19, 2007, we sent the second letter to IBM where we insisted
on implementing the stipulations contained in this petition because we
believe that OS/2 is an important part of the history of the Operating
System, and furthermore, it still contains values that the computer
science field considers unique. 


After talks with the OS/2 development community, we have found that the
following three important components will be basic to the continued
development of OS/2:

      * SOM (System Object Model) Core. This will also be a good
        contribution to the open source community in general and to the
        computer science educational area. 
      * Workplace Shell (WPS). According to press documentation, the
        OS/2 graphical user interface (GUI) was developed 100% by IBM.
        There are no third party restrictions to open sourcing it. 
      * OS/2 Kernel.

We have also opened up a 2nd petition round to get IBM to open source
OS/2. So for those of you who believe this should be in the best
interest for all involved parties; please then sign the new petition
(this way we can also keep you informed about the petition
progress) that has been set up at following link:

http://www.os2world.com/petition

Who did we send the letter to:

http://www.os2world.com/content/view/15847/1/

Also, as always we really need the entire community to spread and post
information to local, regional and national news sites all over; so we
really would like to ask all of you to pass on this information and
comments old and new stories where OS/2 is mentioned. We did great last
time; let's make it even better this time!

With Kindest Regards,

Kim Haverblad
Webmaster & Founder
OS2 World Foundation
Sweden
http://www.os2world.com

Note: You are getting this e-mail since you have earlier signed the OS2
World Petition list. To be updated with progress regarding the
new petition, we then kindly ask you to sign it ->
http://www.os2world.com/petition









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Richard Smedley,                                          rs at m6-it.org
Technical Director,                                      www.M6-IT.org
M6-IT CIC                                         +44 (0)779 456 07 14

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