One of the main global meetings about freeware computer programs begins today, April 12, at the convention center at the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs). It is the eighth edition of the International Free Software Forum.
It's a meeting that brings together the main technicians in the country and large companies to discuss how to improve and share knowledge about this technology.
The participants will discuss and exchange information about the use of open-code programs in the most varied of areas, like security, education, economics, politics, culture and communication.
Almost 500 activities are programmed for the three days of the event, among them workshops, talks and presentation of experiences about public and private companies that decided to use the system.
In 2006, over 5,000 people from 24 countries visited the capital of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul to participate in the meeting.
The federal government is going to participate this year with talks by representatives of companies that use this kind of program, among them the Bank of Brazil, which has already saved 20 million reais (approximately US$ 10 million) with the use of this kind of tool. There will also be a stand where public experiences will be shown.
Agência Brasil, which uses open code programs and is Creative Commons licensed – permitting the use, modification and sale of content if the source is acknowledged – will be one of the highlights.
ABr
