---
layout: default
title: "Open Source Cegah Pembajakan Dorong Kemandirian (Open Source Prevents Piracy, Drives Self-Reliance)"
description: "A KabarIndonesia report on the Global Conference on Open Source (GCOS) 2009 in Jakarta, featuring Sunil Abraham as the Indian speaker on making open source a driver for development."
categories: [Media mentions, Non-English language content]
date: 2009-10-29
source: "KabarIndonesia"
language: id
permalink: /media/gcos-2009-kabarindonesia/
created: 2026-07-26
homepage_featured: true
---

**"Open Source Cegah Pembajakan Dorong Kemandirian"** (English: **"Open Source Prevents Piracy, Drives Self-Reliance"**) is a KabarIndonesia article published on 29 October 2009, reporting on the Global Conference on Open Source (GCOS) 2009, held on 26–27 October 2009 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. Organised by AOSI (Asosiasi Open Source Indonesia) and supported by the State Ministry of Research and Technology and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the conference brought together speakers and delegates from multiple countries to discuss free and open-source software (FOSS) as a tool against piracy and a driver of national self-reliance. [Sunil Abraham](/sunil/), speaking on behalf of India in the session "Making Open Source The Driver for Development," is quoted on the strength of Indonesia's open source community and government support, drawing parallels with India's similar need for low-cost software solutions.

## Contents

1. [Article Details](#article-details)
2. [Full Text](#full-text)
   - [Indonesian (Original)](#indonesian-original)
   - [English (Translation)](#english-translation)
3. [Context and Background](#context-and-background)

## Article Details

<dl class="media-details">
  <dt>📰 Published on:</dt>
  <dd><em>KabarIndonesia</em></dd>

  <dt>📅 Date:</dt>
  <dd>29 October 2009</dd>

  <dt>📄 Type:</dt>
  <dd>News report (event coverage)</dd>

  <dt>📰 Article Link:</dt>
  <dd>
    Not available online
  </dd>
</dl>

## Full Text

### Indonesian (Original)

<div class="highlighted-text">
<div id="fulltext-id" lang="id">

<p>KabarIndonesia - Free Open Source Sofware-FOSS akan menghapus jejak Indonesia dari ranah pembajakan software propriety yang dari pengguna komputer di Indonesia diperkirakan hanya 4% menggunakan software legal.</p>

<p>"Dari kreatifitas para pengembang software, tak hanya kebutuhan office dan grafis saja, namun kedepan akan sangat memungkinkan bahwa hanya dengan FOSS keseluruhan pekerjaan bidang multimedia dan animasi bisa dikerjakan dengan berkualitas" kata Andi S. Boediman, pendiri International Design School sambil memberikan contoh bahwa film animasi Big Bug Bunny adalah salah satu animasi yang dibuat dengan software open source blender.</p>

<p>Senada dengan Andi S. Boediman, adalah Gustaff Hariman Iskandar, pendiri komunitas kreatif Commonroom Bandung, Open source adalah solusi bagi pembajakan software propriety. Meskipun Gustaff juga memberikan catatan, bahwa jika open source mau jadi tuan rumah di Indonesia, maka harus ada peningkatan kecepatan akses internet, karena dalam pemakaian software open source, dibutuhkan koneksi internet yang stabil untuk mengupdate program yang dipakai.</p>

<p>Gustaff memberikan pandangan, bahwa di kalangan komunitas kreatif di Bandung, pemakaian software bajakan sudah lumrah terjadi meskipun kini sudah banyak yang menggunakan sofware asli ataupun memanfaatkan FOSS. Dan ajang global Conference on Open Source-GCOS adalah salah satu program yang menurutnya harus menjadi momentum untuk 'membebaskan' masyarakat dari 'penjajahan' dominasi software berlicensi yang tentunya mahal bagi UKM.</p>

<p>GCOS-Global Conference on Open Source yang digelar 26-27 Oktober lalu, mendapat apresiasi laur biasa dengan mendatangkan tamu dan pembicara dari berbagai negara. Sunil Abraham misalnya, pembicara pada asal India untuk sesi Making Opensource The Driver for Development, merasa terkesan dengan sambutan masyarakat dan pemerintah Indonesia yang luar biasa, bahkan telah terbentuk komunitas open source di Indonesia yang cukup besar sehingga dapat menyelenggarakan GCOS. Sunil, juga bangga dapat berbicara di forum internasional bersama pembicara lain yang menurutnya seperti berbicara di India, karena disini juga berhadapan dengan problem dan karakteristik masyarakat yang hampir sama, butuh software murah untuk saving cost.</p>

<p>Open Source adalah sebuah fenomena, yang menurut Direktur Aptel ICT Depkominfo, Amalia Abdulah, bukan lagi alternative tapi pilihan. Dan kepentingan pemerintah adalah memfasilitasi, mendorong pemakaian software legal yang sesuai kemampuan daya beli masyarakat, bahkan gratis seperti free opensource software-FOSS.</p>

<p>Pasca surat edaran Menpan bulan maret 2009 lalu, sudah ada sekitar 100 lebih pemerintah daerah yang mengajukan permohonan untuk menggunakan open source dan Depkominfo Bersama KNRT [Kementerian Negara Riset dan Teknologi] mengadakan pelatihan SDM mulai dari mengoperasikan software untuk perkantoran, sesuai kebutuhan administrative pemerintahan.</p>

<p>Apa yang dilakukan dalam sinergi Depkominfo, KNRT, Depdiknas, Men PAN adalah sebuah komitmen, bahkan tertuang dalam program dimana pada Desember 2011 ditargetkan pengaplikasian open source di seluruh jajaran instansi dapat terwujud. Keinginan pemerintah tersebut bukan pula tanpa dasar, dengan isu utama dalam open source adalah low cost, mencegah terjadinya pembajakan software, dan mampu memberikan keuntungan bagi Negara. KNRT misalnya yang secara bertahap mengaplikasikan open source sejak 2005, telah menghemat biaya pembelian licensi sebesar 40% dan bisa ditingkatkan menjadi 60%.</p>

<p>Ternyata tak hanya menjawab kebutuhan kalangan UKM yang ingin berhemat memangkas biaya operasional namun tetap berada pada jalur legal, ternyata juga memberikan kontribusi penghematan anggaran bagi pemerintah Negara berkembang seperti Indonesia.</p>

<p>Dengan memanfaatkan software open source yang bersifat terbuka dan bebas untuk dikembangkan, seharusnya juga menjadi motivasi bagi bangsa indonesia untuk menjadi pemain utama dalam pengembangan software yang dibutuhkan dunia teknologi informasi, yang apada akhirnya dapat mencerdaskan kehidupan bangsa.</p>

<p>Pemerintah yang telah memulai aplikasi open source meski hanya berbekal surat edaran Men PAN, mungkin perlu meningkatkan komitmen dan dedikasinya dengan penerbitan regulasi lebih mengikat dan 'memaksa' yang didalamnya tak hanya berisi himbauan, namun juga proteksi.</p>

<p>Dan jika Depkominfo dan Depdiknas dapat bersinergi melalui program pendidikan open source, akan menjadi awal yang baik memperkenalkan dan mengajarkan open source sebagai sebuah wujud kemandirian bangsa yang tak lagi terjajah secara teknologi.</p>

<p>Betty Alisjahbana dari AOSI [Asosisi Open Source Indonesia] dan Lolly Amalia selaku Direktur Sistem Informasi Ditjen Aptel Depkominfo, kedua belah pihak telah saling bertemu visi dengan 'keroyokan' melaksanakan GCOS secara bersama-sama, diantara kedua pihak telah ada kesepakatan saling membantu aplikasi Open Source di seluruh Indonesia.</p>

<p>Untuk mengatasi kendala profesionalitas AOSI dalam memberikan layanan sebagaimana tuntutan kebutuhan saat ini, Betty bahkan sedang dalam proses mengorganisir kekuatan-kekuatan di dalam AOSI untuk bernaung didalam sebuah payung badan usaha profesional, jadi bukan lagi komunitas penghobi open source saja.</p>

<p>Lebih jauh pandangan Onno W Purbo, penggiat open source, free open source software [FOSS] harus menjadikan Indonesia sebagai 'Knowledge Based Society', menggunakan pengetahuannya untuk bisa berkarya. Dari pihak pemerintah, telah dicontohkan oleh Kementrian Riset dan Teknologi (KNRT) dalam penerapan eGovernment secara menyeluruh dalam rangka meningkatkan kualitas layanan publik secara efektif dan efisien untuk meminimalisir korupsi di lingkungan pemerintahan.</p>

<p>Dalam bincang-bincang dengan Ditjen Aplikasi dan Telematika Depkominfo Ashwin Sasongko, ia mengandaikan Free Open Source Software seperti air mineral yang bisa diambil gratis dari pegunungan, tapi distribusi dan pengemasannya bayar.</p>

<p>Sun Microsystems melaporkan perkembangan potensi pengguna FOSS, sejak tahun 2008 telah terjaring komunitas OSS dari Java dengan lebih dari 15.000 pengguna dan hampir 10.000 pengadopsi pemula penggunaan OSS dari 150 perguruan tinggi serta 70 sekolah menengah. Tampaknya, aktifitas AOSI yang menyebarkan ribuan komputer dengan aplikasi FOSS ke sekolah-sekolah mulai terlihat hasilnya.</p>

<p>FOSS hadir menjadi solusi di tengah upaya menekan pembajakan software proprietary dengan memasyarakatkan software legal, di sisi lain juga membangun susasana kompetitif di tengah usaha untuk membangun kemandirian bangsa.</p>

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### English (Translation)

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<p>KabarIndonesia — Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is set to erase Indonesia's association with proprietary software piracy, given that an estimated only 4% of Indonesian computer users currently use legal software.</p>

<p>"From the creativity of software developers, it's not just office and graphics needs, but going forward it will be entirely possible for FOSS alone to handle high-quality work across multimedia and animation," said Andi S. Boediman, founder of the International Design School, citing the animated film Big Buck Bunny as an example of animation made using the open-source software Blender.</p>

<p>Echoing Andi S. Boediman was Gustaff Hariman Iskandar, founder of the Bandung creative community Commonroom, who described open source as a solution to proprietary software piracy. Gustaff also noted, however, that for open source to truly take hold in Indonesia, internet access speeds would need to improve, since using open-source software requires a stable internet connection to update the programs in use.</p>

<p>Gustaff observed that within Bandung's creative community, the use of pirated software has long been common, although many have now switched to genuine software or adopted FOSS. He views the Global Conference on Open Source (GCOS) as an important opportunity to help "liberate" society from the "domination" of licensed software, which is often too expensive for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).</p>

<p>The Global Conference on Open Source (GCOS), held on 26–27 October, received considerable acclaim, drawing guests and speakers from various countries. Sunil Abraham, for instance, the speaker representing India for the session "Making Open Source The Driver for Development," said he was impressed by the extraordinary support shown by Indonesian society and government, noting that Indonesia had built a sufficiently large open source community to be able to host GCOS. Sunil also said he was proud to speak at this international forum alongside other speakers, remarking that it felt similar to speaking in India, since Indonesia faces similar problems and social characteristics, with a comparable need for low-cost software to save costs.</p>

<p>Open source is a phenomenon that, according to Amalia Abdulah, Director of ICT Applications and Telematics at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Depkominfo), is no longer merely an alternative but a genuine choice. The government's interest lies in facilitating and encouraging the use of legal software suited to the public's purchasing power, including free options such as FOSS.</p>

<p>Following a circular issued by the Ministry of State Apparatus Utilisation (Menpan) in March 2009, more than 100 regional governments have already applied to adopt open source, and Depkominfo, together with the State Ministry of Research and Technology (KNRT), has been conducting human resource training, ranging from operating office software to meeting government administrative needs.</p>

<p>The synergy between Depkominfo, KNRT, the Ministry of National Education (Depdiknas), and Menpan reflects a firm commitment, formalised in a programme targeting the implementation of open source across all government agencies by December 2011. This government ambition is not without basis: the central issues driving open source adoption are low cost, piracy prevention, and the potential to generate savings for the state. KNRT, for example, which has gradually implemented open source since 2005, has already cut licensing costs by 40%, with potential savings of up to 60%.</p>

<p>It turns out that open source doesn't just meet the needs of SMEs looking to cut operational costs while staying within the law, it also contributes meaningful budget savings for the governments of developing countries like Indonesia.</p>

<p>By taking advantage of open-source software, which is open and free to develop, Indonesia should also be motivated to become a major player in developing the software the information technology world needs, ultimately helping to raise the nation's intellectual standing.</p>

<p>Having begun open source adoption on the strength of a Menpan circular alone, the government may need to strengthen its commitment and dedication by issuing more binding and enforceable regulation, one that includes not just encouragement but also protection.</p>

<p>And if Depkominfo and Depdiknas can work together through open source education programmes, it would mark a good starting point for introducing and teaching open source as an expression of national self-reliance, no longer technologically dependent on others.</p>

<p>Betty Alisjahbana of AOSI (Asosiasi Open Source Indonesia) and Lolly Amalia, Director of Information Systems at Depkominfo's Directorate General of Applications and Telematics, found common ground in jointly organising GCOS through a collaborative effort, with both sides agreeing to mutually support open source implementation across Indonesia.</p>

<p>To address AOSI's professionalism constraints in delivering services amid current demands, Betty is in the process of organising AOSI's internal strengths under a professional business entity, moving beyond being simply a hobbyist open source community.</p>

<p>Open source advocate Onno W Purbo offered a further view: free and open source software (FOSS) should help transform Indonesia into a "Knowledge Based Society," using its knowledge to produce and create. On the government side, the State Ministry of Research and Technology (KNRT) has set an example through its comprehensive implementation of eGovernment, aimed at improving the quality of public services effectively and efficiently while minimising corruption within government.</p>

<p>In a conversation with Ashwin Sasongko, Director General of Applications and Telematics at Depkominfo, he compared Free Open Source Software to mineral water that can be taken freely from the mountains, but for which distribution and packaging must be paid for.</p>

<p>Sun Microsystems reported on the growing potential of FOSS users: since 2008, the OSS community built around Java has grown to more than 15,000 users, with nearly 10,000 first-time adopters of OSS drawn from 150 universities and 70 secondary schools. It appears that AOSI's efforts to distribute thousands of computers with FOSS applications to schools are beginning to show results.</p>

<p>FOSS has emerged as a solution amid efforts to curb proprietary software piracy by promoting legal software use, while at the same time fostering a competitive environment in the broader effort to build national self-reliance.</p>

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## Context and Background

GCOS 2009 took place at a moment when the Indonesian government was actively pushing open source adoption across public institutions, following a March 2009 circular from the Ministry of State Apparatus Utilisation (Menpan) that prompted over 100 regional governments to apply to adopt open source software. The conference, organised by AOSI with backing from the State Ministry of Research and Technology and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, brought together government officials, industry figures, and international speakers to discuss open source as both an anti-piracy measure and a vehicle for national technological self-reliance.

Sunil Abraham represented India at GCOS 2009, speaking in the session "Making Open Source The Driver for Development." His remarks, as reported, drew a direct comparison between Indonesia's and India's shared development challenges, both countries facing similar social and economic characteristics that make low-cost, open source software an attractive means of reducing costs.

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