Boycott Novell Protesters Man-handled at National Conference on Free Software 2008
Here is blow by blow account of trouble that brewed up on the second day of National Conference on Free Software 2008 in Cochin university. The activists put up posters against the Novell Corp (the main sponsor of this event) at the Free Software exhibition complex.
The organisers called up Kochi police and man handled the Anivar Aravind a former student of the Cochin University and a well known free software activist.
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arky
15 years 45 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago
Post update
I updated the blog and posted few more photos from the main venue of the event and preparations for the protest.
Most of the mobile phones were taken and pictures deleted, I was lucky enough to get out in time.
lozz
15 years 45 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago
Pic of the Year!
I nominate these shots for the Pic of the Year Award.
Congratulations on getting away from Novell's storm troopers with the evidence, arky.
What were Novell even doing at a Free Software Conference, much less sponsoring it?
Balzac
15 years 45 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago
Little did they know...
There was an intrepid free software comrade on the scene.
Balzac
15 years 45 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago
Thanks for keeping us informed.
Microsoft and their allies are at their worst when they think people won't know about their misdeeds.
arky
15 years 45 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago
More to follow
Keep watching this space for more, I am trying to collect the photos and video's from others who were there with the ring side view.
lozz
15 years 45 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago
"The notorious Novell"
I love it!
Also, "Platinum Sponsor", sounds more like something that escaped from an Amway Convention than anything you would see associated with Free Software.
Please post any more pics you can find.
motters
15 years 45 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago
Who were the organizers ?
I'd like to know specifically who were the people organizing this conference. They ought to be named and shamed - especially for the attempted cover-up including deletion of photos.
arky
15 years 45 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago
Event Details
All hell broke lose when novell guys saw the 'Bycott Novell' handouts pasted right across their booth and said they won't pay up any sponsers money they owe to the event organisers. They took their ire by kicking out the activists and tearing up the posters.
The event website has all the information about the people behind the event.
http://nfm2008.atps.in/
shyam_k
15 years 45 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago
Others who went to enquire too had been locked up
HI, I Just reached home safely with anivar after that "terror" we got from the organizers whom i thought were organizing a free software event. Even After this mishandling, Arun, Government appointed officer for International conf to come on december and Amarnath Raja, IEEE Kerala Chair were to the exhibition hall enquiring about the issue, Even they were locked up for five minutes!!!!
Earlier, the first response from the NOVELL officers towards the posters were to withdraw their sponsorship money, without even being ready to accept the difference in opinion!!!
Way to go!!