Linux Journal: An Interview with Dr. Edgar Villanueva

[ Thanks to Dhak for
this link. ]

“Dr. Edgar Villanueva has recently become somewhat of a
celebrity in the Free Software and Open Source communities as a
result of his legislative efforts favoring free software and his
highly publicized, well informed and eloquent response (English
translation here) to a Peruvian Microsoft executive’s letter
(English translation here).

“Much of the media coverage has focused on the letter and the
response. An import part of the story, however, is how the proposal
started and how it’s garnered support. In the interview below, Dr.
Villanueva graciously acknowledges the support of the Peruvian
Linux Users’ Group. In e-mail exchanges with Antonio Ognio, a
Peruvian activist and PLUG member, we discovered that the LUG
actually played an advisory role in determining the text of some of
the more sensitive areas of the proposed law. The participation of
LUGs in the drafting of legislation–that’s grass roots at its
finest.

“LJ What has been your exposure to, or
experience with, free software?

“Villanueva I’ve kept up with the Free Software
movement in Peru for several years. Both the philosophy that drives
it and the fact that, for technical and economic reasons, this
software allows the implementation of solutions for a range of
organizations…”

Complete Story