(DRAFT)

The Statement from the Asia Open Source Software Symposium 2003

(Phuket Statement)

6^th March, 2003
Phuket, Thailand

The Asia Open Source Software Symposium 2003 was held from the 4^th to the 6^th of March in Phuket, Thailand. Peoples who are eager to develop their own software technology by their hands are gathered from various areas in Asia. They discussed many issues concerning open source software and shared knowledge. We hereby reached to propose this statement

Sharing expectations for OSS ¹in Asia

1. Current situation

We share the observation that the appearance of OSS in the Asia region is significant.

With varying expectations of OSS, each economy conducts development and promotion activities under different circumstances.

2. Recent progress

We recognize that each economy is in the progress of own development of the various OSS. Many concrete cases were presented and demonstrated.

Sharing vision of OSS

3. Encouraging OSS community

We recognize the importance of community in order to promote collaborative development and information sharing of OSS. We also recognize the necessity of harmonization of the communities emerging in Asia.

4. Human resources development

We share the understanding that OSS is crucial for skills development of professionals concerning software technology.

5. Right understanding of legal issues on OSS

We realize that there are various types of license policies concerning OSS, and necessity of further discussion on them.

6. Interoperability

We recognize the diversity of culture, language and scripts in Asia, and there are several efforts to modify original software to fit them. We recognize the importance to keep the interoperability with upstream and across those derivative.

We also recognize the importance of using and promoting open standards for interoperability.

7. Effective utilization of OSS in embedded systems

We recognize the importance of collaboration in developing the technology for embedded OSS and the legal issues concerning embedded OSS.

Future activities

8. Collaboration on OSS in Asia

We agree upon the importance of information exchange and collaboration on OSS in Asia. In order to build the collaboration, we will keep contact by mailing lists, web sites and symposia.

9. Collaboration with international organizations
   We recognize the need for cooperation between international and regional organizations in open source.