Karnataka HC to decide whether free software is stifling competition

In a case that has potentially far reaching implications (always wanted to use that phrase – far reaching implications),”some software companies” have filed a petition before the Karnataka High Court challenging its use of the Nudi software font for egovernance purposes. The Government claims that the software is free and the ” best among the softwares available.”. The Companies on the other hand allege that there is no “scientific basis for the State to prefer Nudi over other compatible softwares” and insist that the Government “prescribe uniform standards for bilingual fonts for developing software in Kannada”.

Is there a scientific basis to prefer free software over proprietary alternatives? Hm.

After some scouting around the web, I’ve stumbled upon some history of the dispute. All is not well, it seems, in the Karnataka Font Development industry. I’m going to use internet sources to try to piece together this sordid saga of hope, suspicion, treachery and betrayal that is the Kannada Font.

Two websites are going to be my primary sources: The Government of Karnataka and some vitriol on a site called Ella Kannadaabhimanigala Antharrashtriya Vedike In (Ekavi)

So it turns out, the Karnataka Government mandates the use of a font called ‘Nudi’ for use in all e-governance projects. The Karnataka Government asserts that this is freeware:

The Karnataka Government owned Kannada Script enabling software NUDI, developed by Kannada Ganaka Parishat, is a freeware. Most of the fonts with NUDI can be used for dynamic font embedding purposes. Since the fonts and the software are available free, these can be used in the no font-embedding situation as well. Regarding R&D, it is a continuing activity to move with the changing technological conditions, mainly so with NUDI. As per the requirements, new features will get implemented in NUDI, of course maintaining compatibility with earlier versions. Futher, it is to be noted that enthusiatic and innovative font developers can develop any number of fonts for NUDI engine using standard software like Fontographer, Fontlab, Font creator etc.

Turns out, Nudi was created by copying a software called Baraha – which it turns out, was a rehashed, pirated – murder most foul! – version of a font called Akruthi. According to this rambling invective on Ekavi, this sinister design was apparently executed by an evil genius/tyrant called ‘VASU of BARAHA’ who is ‘PRIMARILY responsible for all the problems KANNADA SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT is facing TODAY’.

VASU has allowed Srinatha Shastry, Narasimha Murthy and Dr. Panditharadhya of Kannada Ganaka Parishat “KGP” to COPY BARAHA Fonts and name it NUDI Fonts and sell NUDI Fonts to Govt. of Karnataka “GoK”. So GoK is using STOLEN PROPERTY and forcing all Departments to use NUDI FONTS. This made other KANNADA SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS to GO OUT of BUSINESS.

Who knew.

NEXT question, we all need to think is,
If BARAHA and NUDI Fonts are being offered FREE like this to KANNADIGAS,
Why BARAHA and NUDI fonts are not in OPEN SOURCE PLATFORM ??? WHY ? WHY ? WHY ? WHY ? WHY ? WHY ?

Oh dear.

Copyright in fonts is untested in India and needs a closer look.In the US, in 1998, a federal district court held in Adobe Systems, Inc. v. Southern Software, Inc that copyright law protects “software programs” that create fonts that are distinct typefaces. But the question of originality can still be raised in the Indian context.The artwork involved in fonts is language itself – not something elaborately conceived independently by the developer. ‘Sweat of brow’ alone is not a determinant of copyrightability in India.

More on this later.

Karnataka – Bangalore

Nudi software: court asks Government if uniform standards can be applied

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday sought to know from the State Government why it could not prescribe uniform standards for bilingual fonts for developing software in Kannada.

The court was dealing with a petition by some software companies that had questioned the rationale of the Government going in for Nudi software for e-governance.

They claimed that Nudi is creating a monopoly and stifling competition. They said there is no scientific basis for the State to prefer Nudi over other compatible softwares.

The Government argued that Nudi was a free software and that it was essentially being used by Government departments. It said it was the best among the softwares available.

An official of the Department of e-governance, who was present in the court, said more developed and sophisticated tools are now available. Justice A.S. Bopanna, who is hearing the petition, asked why it could not formulate a uniform bilingual font. He asked the State to look into the suggestion.

© Copyright 2000 – 2008 The Hindu

GI registration for crop varieties

The Hindu reports today that the Karnataka Government is seeking GI registratino for 21 crops in addition to 9 crops that it has already registered.

The crops for which the Geographical Indication tag is sought are: Byadagi Chilli, Devanahalli Chakkota, Kamalapura Red Banana, Sagar Appe Midi Mango, Mattu Gulla Brinjal, Bangalore Rose Onion, Totapuri Mango, Bangalore Blue Grapes and Janagere Jackfruit.

Why?

Mr. Ganeshan said the Horticulture Department wanted to create a brand value to the unique crops of the State through GI registration. This would go a long way in getting remunerative prices to farmers, especially in the international market, he said.

What else?

Karnataka is leading other States in getting GI tags for its crops as six out of the 10 crops in the country for which GI tag has been provided are from the State.

Like a race.

See my previous post and Icommons article on Cultural and Biological Heritage and IP.

Karnataka Information Commission directs key agencies in state to digitise their data by April 1

The Karnataka Information Commission has ordered The Bangalore Development Authority, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara
Palike and the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority to computerise all their documents from April 1 in accordance with Section 4(1)(a) of the Right To Information Act, 2005. This is an extremely salutary order and one hopes that it will be extended to other agencies as well – most notably the High Court of Karnataka which remains one of the few courts that does not offer its judgments online.
From the Hindu

BANGALORE: Come April, three key agencies regulating development in Bangalore and its vicinity, have to necessarily go digital to ensure transparency and better management of records.

The Bangalore Development Authority, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike and the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority will have to computerise all documents the agencies sanction from April 1, a direction from the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) says. The documents include building plans, commencement certificates, occupation certificates and other related documents.

The KIC has also directed that over a period of time, sanctions issued before April 1 must also be computerised. “Pending such computerisation, records relating to sanction of building plans, both for residential and multi-storey buildings, shall be retained for 50 years,” the order copy states. The KIC has further directed that all data must be stored in such a format that it cannot be changed or modified and will thereafter be available without much difficulty. The KIC directions come after an individual filed a complaint before it stating that the BDA had not provided him information on a building plan. In the course of the proceedings, it came to light that the BDA had no policy on the duration it preserves its records.

During this period, the BDA issued a circular in December stating that all records in its Engineering Section would be retained for 30 years, the same period that the Public Works Department (PWD) keeps its records. Building plans would be retained for five years for residential houses and 10 years for multi-storey buildings. Not satisfied with this, the Commission issued the directions asking that all records be computerised.

“If a flyover collapses 10 years after it was built, we need the records to re-examine what went wrong,” State Chief Information Commissioner K.K. Misra told The Hindu while explaining the order. The agencies going digital is also mandatory under Section 4(1)(a) of the Right To Information Act, 2005, which states that a public authority has to ensure that subject to availability of resources, all records must be computerised within a reasonable time.

The order is likely to give a push towards better management of records, a malady that has been hindering the effective implementation of the RTI Act.
BDA starts process

The BDA has started the process of cataloguing its records and preparing a software package for a proposed information system.

It might, however, not be able to meet the April 1 deadline, set by the KIC, said B.G. Satish, systems manager at the agency.

The BDA has outsourced the process of developing the software to HCL and the project titled BDA Integrated Information Management System will cost Rs. 2 crore. “Once the software is in force, then information at the BDA’s disposal will be available online,” Mr. Satish said.