MESSAGE
| DATE | 2002-07-27 |
| FROM | David Sugar
|
| SUBJECT | Re: [hangout] Microsoft threatens to end Free Software.
|
Never have I heard such a contemptable statement made in public. I still find
it hard to believe anyone in any position of responsibility in any cival or
private instution can believe the freedom of individuals to freely exchange
information is something that should be extinguished. Many had fought and
died for this nation to establish and maintain these very freedoms being so
easily dismissed as incoveniencing the profit of some. Fair use is
fundimentally about human civilization and our most basic rights and
dignities as individuals, it is not just an abstract concept or theoretical
legal construct, but at the very soul of who we are, as human beings, as a
nation, as a society. These same freedoms and rights, long enjoyed in this
nation, made it possible for those very same people to initially prosper, and
now they wish to deny those oppertuntinities to others.
To say I was upset and angry when I first read this is to put it mildy.
Certainly as an American, I did sign up for a constitution that promised
life, liberty, and the persuit of happyness as an equal oppertunity to us
all. That is a constitution I can believe in and respect, and if nessisary
die for to protect. I certainly recall seeing no ammendment declaring the
right of certain businesses to maximize profits in perpetuaty at the expense
of others. Perhaps there is some other constitution that such people believe
in?
David
On Thursday 25 July 2002 09:40 pm, Ruben I Safir wrote:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/25/technology/25NET.html?todaysheadlines
>
> quite a direct threat on free software and open source from
> Microsoft...
>
> "... Microsoft also warned today that the era of "open
> computing," the
> free exchange of digital information that has defined the
> personal
> computer industry, is ending.
>
> The company is trying to influence an industry consortium
> called the
> Trusted Computing Platform Alliance, which has been trying
> to create a
> new standard that will build a cryptographic key system into
> future
> personal computers.
>
> The idea has been challenged in the past by both civil
> liberties and
> consumer groups, who argue that it could potentially
> undercut privacy
> and intellectual property fair-use rights..."
>
> also mentions that the new version of Windows is codenamed
> 'Longhorn'..
> this would presumably be a TCPA - enabled Windows?....
>
> best
>
> miriam
____________________________
New Yorker Linux Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
|
|
