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Last active December 16, 2015 16:49
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Free TDIL. Possible licensing policy change for Technology Development for Indian Languages Programme.

Would like to know what are the steps/actions/policy-change needed to bring [TDIL's] (http://tdil-dc.in/) various works under free/opensource license? As I understand, TDIL is funded with tax-payer's money and ideally its output should be under public domain.

A case in point is [Sakal Bharati] (http://tdil-dc.in/index.php?option=com_up-download&task=view-download-tool&view=GET&toolid=805) font. They are not under any free/opensource license. See 'License Terms and Conditions' for 'Sakal Bharati' at the end. Due to the same, they cannot be distributed or placed as 'webfonts' - restricting its utility and usage to minimum.

Just like 'Sakal Bharati' many other products and technologies are not fully utilized for the want of open, participative and clear licensing policy. Any link or reference in this direction (to 'free' TDIL) would be of great help.

License Terms and Conditions for Sakal Bharati

License Terms and conditions

BEFORE WE GET STARTED PLEASE READ, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE 
FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER.
THIS FONT IS FOR FREE USAGE. THIS FONT IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND ANY 
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE 
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A 
PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE 
COPYRIGHT HOLDER BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, 
SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT 
LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF 
USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED 
AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT 
LIABILITY, OR INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE ARISING IN ANY WAY 
OUT OF THE USE OF THIS FONT, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF 
SUCH DAMAGE.
THE COPYRIGHTS OF THE RESPECTIVE PRODUCTS ARE HELD BY C-DAC.
@kartikm
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kartikm commented Apr 26, 2013

@samyakbhuta
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@kartikm, Yes, it is not free. The question is, why not ?

Irony is that they are 'reference font'. Source : http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/legal/2010-May/001274.html.

At least it should be possible to redistribute it ( with attribution somewhere ). Following are some scenarios where free redistribution ( and not modification ) of fonts makes lot of sense.

  • Standalone Desktop/Mobile Application : Need to put it in installation bundle so that one doesn't have to ask enduser to download it separately.
  • Web Application : Need to have it available as web fonts. Doing so, at this moment, violates the distribution clause.

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