[oclug] Political action needed NOW

[Charles MacDonald]

MATT Sez:

> AFAICT, this is a LINUX list.  I'm willing to discuss a lot of stuff in
> the context of linux, and even Open Source/ Free Software.  This has
> NOTHING to do with Linux, Free software, or even software in general.  
> Believe it or not, I'm actually on your side on this issue, I just feel
> very strongly that this is NOT the venue to discuss it.


How true, BUT the sucess of Linux is part based on it's Licencing being 
such that it also can be distributed via Peer to Peer Networks.

The case at hand is an example of where the Peer-to-peer nature of the 
net has proved to be very inconvient for an industry that is bassed on a 
central choke point of control.  (in the old days steam powered Record 
Pressing)

If the Culture Minister acts swiftly to close the "hole" that they have 
"discovered" by means of the court rulling, thay may decide that "peer 
to peer" is the problem, and Outlaw such means as "bit-torent" which is 
a peer to peer equivent for Linux code.

In the article in todays Citizen they were already talking about DRM - 
DCMA stile illegal reverse engineering and so forth.  It would only take 
a small nudge from there to make Linux as we know it, Illegal!

SO IMNSHO, the _PANIC_ over a perfectly sensible rulling by the courts, 
which happens to show that one emporor really has let his/her clothes 
gecome so out of style that they no-longer cover his or her business 
model MAY if the right folks are not enlightened become a serious 
problem of all of us who like to use LINUX.

 
So spreading the word is a _Good thing_ as another Big Business Media Felon was often quoted as saying.


Now the best list for actually DOING something about it is at:

http://www.digital-copyright.ca/forum.shtml

  http://www.digital-copyright.ca

SO please tell everyone the implications and lets try to write to the 
"powers that be" hopefully in ways that will persuade them and not by 
insulting them..(Politicos have very soft egos that need careful stoking 
if you want them to take inteleignet actions.)


-- 
Charles MacDonald  Stittsville Ontario
  cmacd at achilles.net      Just Beyond the Fringe
            http://home.achilles.net/~cmacd/
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