Promote and Defend Free Software in France --- Christophe Espern (FR)

Since 1996, APRIL (Association Pour la Promotion et la Recherche en Informatique Libre), France's open source pioneer, has been a major player in the democratisation and spread of open source software and open standards for the general public, professionals and institutions in France. One of APRIL's goals is to create public awareness on the dangers of exclusive appropriation of information and intellectual property.
In 2002 Christophe Espern co-founded the EUCD.INFO initiative and for four years dedicated himself to generate awareness about the issues surrounding the implementation of the EUCD (European Copyright Directive). In 2004 he became a member of APRIL. Since then he regularly speaks on behalf of the association at conferences, institutional and political events. He represents the association at the "Forum des Droits sur Internet" and at CSPLA (Conseil supérieur de la propriété littéraire et artistique). Since September 2006 he is also working for the FSF (Free Software Foundation) France.
http://april.org

The Code (2001) --- a documentary by Hannu Puttonen (FI)

Story of Linux - A little operating system that showed the world an alternative

In 1991, a 20-year old Linus Torvalds, a thin, bespectacled, Swedish- speaking Finnish computer science student sends a posting to an Internet newsgroup asking for advice on how to make a better operating system. His project is a hobby, he says, and would never become big and professional. But in ten years he and his loose alliance of hackers all over the world creates an operating system Linux that challenges Windows 2000 for the server market and is now poised to dominate the next generation of handheld and desktop computers. What makes Linux different, and deeply troubling for traditional software companies, is that no one owns it. Every user is free to adapt it in any way they wish, as long as they pass it on to others on the same terms.

The Code presents the first decade of Linux from 1991 to 2001. Besides Torvalds, it includes many of his closest allies in development process, that is nowadays seen as the greatest success story of the Internet culture. Why did he put his code into the Net for free, initially? Many can still not understand it. Maybe because given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow, giving a way to a better product? Or is there something more to it?

The Code is about the human urge to share and exchange, to achieve something through collaboration, the profit motive not being the dominating factor. Linux and the free software movement have showed new ways to make profit in computer industry, while raising heated debates on the ethics of business and the old issue of freedom of speech. In the end, The Code tells a key story of the digital age, a symbolic saga about capitalism during the last fin de siècle of the second millennium and the early steps of the third one. (From: The Code, Synopsis, Hannu Puttonen)
http://code.linux.fi

Talk with Hannu Puttonen (FI)

After the screening of "The Code", the director, Hannu Puttonen, will answer questions and talk about his work with the audience.

Hannu Puttonen has directed documentary films and music videos since 1987. The Code (2001) was his eighth documentary. Most of his documentaries have found their stories from the themes and people involved in pop, new media and computer culture. Before all of this, in the 1980's, Hannu Puttonen studied philosophy, comparative studies of literature and psychology at the University of Tampere, acquiring an M.A. in media studies. Before his film and radio career he worked as a journalist in Finland for newspapers, magazines and a news agency.

Back to the Programme or see also:

• BEK.NO(ISE) evening - Carré Bleu
• Closing party @ Confort Moderne
• Exhibition
• FLOSS+ART
• Audiovisual performances @ Planétarium
• FLOSS TOOLS
• Workshop Pure Data