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... and it is outstanding.

Yes, it took me a couple of weeks to learn (3-4 hours / evening) surfing the online tutorial sites and trying stuff out, but this is not unreasonable for a piece of software of this sophistication and power.

DivX v. 3 files (viewable under xmms-avi and xine using the most excellent avifile library) of some of my work can be seen here (freely available under the Free Media License) ... what one can do with Blender in a very short time is truly amazing.

I bought "The Official Blender 2.0 Guide" from NaN in order to support the free (as in beer) nature of Blender and encourage the making of blender GPLed, i.e. free (as in speech). Whether or not NaN choose to do so is of course up to them, although I think with their business model of giving away the software and charging for the documentation GPLing the software would give them much wider exposure (e.g. availability in all Linux distributions, etc.).

However, although my initial purchase of the book was somewhat alturistic, I have found it to be an invaluable reference. The same can be said for "The Blender Book" which I purchased later in order to learn some of the more advanced modelling techniques.

Very cool software, and very excellent documentation ... contrary to what some anti-free software bigots are saying (it shouldn't be necessary, but I will point out that Blender is not, I repeat, not free software, although NaN currently doesn't charge for it, making such anti-free software criticisms doubly misguided).

... and it is outstanding.

Yes, it took me a couple of weeks to learn (3-4 hours / evening) surfing the online tutorial sites and trying stuff out, but this is not unreasonable for a piece of software of this sophistication and power.

DivX v. 3 files (viewable under xmms-avi and xine using the most excellent avifile library) of some of my work can be seen here (freely available under the Free Media License) ... what one can do with Blender in a very short time is truly amazing.

I bought "The Official Blender 2.0 Guide" from NaN in order to support the free (as in beer) nature of Blender and encourage the making of blender GPLed, i.e. free (as in speech). Whether or not NaN choose to do so is of course up to them, although I think with their business model of giving away the software and charging for the documentation GPLing the software would give them much wider exposure (e.g. availability in all Linux distributions, etc.).

However, although my initial purchase of the book was somewhat alturistic, I have found it to be an invaluable reference. The same can be said for "The Blender Book" which I purchased later in order to learn some of the more advanced modelling techniques.

Very cool software, and very excellent documentation ... contrary to what some anti-free software bigots are saying (it shouldn't be necessary, but I will point out that Blender is not, I repeat, not free software, although NaN currently doesn't charge for it, making such anti-free software criticisms doubly misguided).

Ogg/Vorbis recently changed the license for much of their stuff (the libraries, etc.) from GPL to FreeBSD in order to facilitate the incorporation of Ogg/Vorbis into hardware. This was done because of the legal complexities of incorporating GPL firmware with hardware and was fully endorsed by the free software foundation. As one who generally makes use of the GPL (and has even written a GPL-like Free Media License for other forms of artistic media (films, music, etc.), I found this to be very interesting ... a vindication that no single free license fits all, and a strong indication that the Free Software Foundation can be very flexible in supporting whatever measures enhance software (and hardware) freedom, even when it means putting the good of the community before their own pride.

Given the interest hardware manufacturers have expressed in OggVorbis (remember, they could well take the brunt of the hit when the royalty demands for MP3 start rolling in), I would be very surprised if many, perhaps even most, hardware players aren't supporting both MP3 and OggVorbis in the near future.

Or, better yet, make your own indie film.

Really. I'm serious.


Funny you should say that. :-) I'm working on doing exactly that right now.

The (very rough) first draft of the Novel is about 1/4 to 1/3 done, from which a movie script will be made (by either myself or one of the others who have expressed interest in the project). From there one or more movies may be filmed. Best of all, all my material is being released under a GPL-like Free Media License (comments and criticisms welcome) making it possible for anyone who wants to to take the material and incorporate it into their own work.

You are absolutely right, the best way by far to resist the Copyright Cartels and Media Empires is to create your own entertainment and share it with others.

BTW - I hope to have the first draft done by the end of the year, clean it up in the first two months of 2001, then start working on the script by spring (assuming the individual I'm in contact with hasn't already started that). Your guess is as good as mine on when/if filming will ever start -- I know at least one individual who is interested in making a student film, and some friends and I might take a crack at it just for fun as well. Between all of us something will probably get made in the next year or two.

Or, better yet, make your own indie film.

Really. I'm serious.


Funny you should say that. :-) I'm working on doing exactly that right now.

The (very rough) first draft of the Novel is about 1/4 to 1/3 done, from which a movie script will be made (by either myself or one of the others who have expressed interest in the project). From there one or more movies may be filmed. Best of all, all my material is being released under a GPL-like Free Media License (comments and criticisms welcome) making it possible for anyone who wants to to take the material and incorporate it into their own work.

You are absolutely right, the best way by far to resist the Copyright Cartels and Media Empires is to create your own entertainment and share it with others.

BTW - I hope to have the first draft done by the end of the year, clean it up in the first two months of 2001, then start working on the script by spring (assuming the individual I'm in contact with hasn't already started that). Your guess is as good as mine on when/if filming will ever start -- I know at least one individual who is interested in making a student film, and some friends and I might take a crack at it just for fun as well. Between all of us something will probably get made in the next year or two.

Or, better yet, make your own indie film.

Really. I'm serious.


Funny you should say that. :-) I'm working on doing exactly that right now.

The (very rough) first draft of the Novel is about 1/4 to 1/3 done, from which a movie script will be made (by either myself or one of the others who have expressed interest in the project). From there one or more movies may be filmed. Best of all, all my material is being released under a GPL-like Free Media License (comments and criticisms welcome) making it possible for anyone who wants to to take the material and incorporate it into their own work.

You are absolutely right, the best way by far to resist the Copyright Cartels and Media Empires is to create your own entertainment and share it with others.

BTW - I hope to have the first draft done by the end of the year, clean it up in the first two months of 2001, then start working on the script by spring (assuming the individual I'm in contact with hasn't already started that). Your guess is as good as mine on when/if filming will ever start -- I know at least one individual who is interested in making a student film, and some friends and I might take a crack at it just for fun as well. Between all of us something will probably get made in the next year or two.

We are in some ways debating the differences between Bach and Beethoven here. There are signficant stylistic differences, but at the end of the day both were classical composers who adhered to much of the same musical orthodoxy (or not, depending upon with whome you debate).

Linux and *BSD are both descendents of UNIX, with vastly more similarities than differences. Both are beautiful systems in their own right, borrow from one another when appropriate, and have many of the same strengths and flaws.

Licensing flame fests aside (I was recently harangued by a BSD License bigot for releasing my -- unfinished, rough first draft -- Novel under the GPL-like Free Media License rather than a BSD style License) and OS religious bigotry aside, I work with both Linux and FreeBSD and, quite frankly, wouldn't want to be without either of them.

There is no one right way to anything, unless you subscribe to the Microsoft philosophy (one world, one internet, one OS, akin to Hitler's "ein Volk, ein Reich..." crap). None of us would want a steady diet of steak, without the occasional salad, potato, or glass of Merlot ... why should we accept any less diversity in our computing lives?

We are in some ways debating the differences between Bach and Beethoven here. There are signficant stylistic differences, but at the end of the day both were classical composers who adhered to much of the same musical orthodoxy (or not, depending upon with whome you debate).

Linux and *BSD are both descendents of UNIX, with vastly more similarities than differences. Both are beautiful systems in their own right, borrow from one another when appropriate, and have many of the same strengths and flaws.

Licensing flame fests aside (I was recently harangued by a BSD License bigot for releasing my -- unfinished, rough first draft -- Novel under the GPL-like Free Media License rather than a BSD style License) and OS religious bigotry aside, I work with both Linux and FreeBSD and, quite frankly, wouldn't want to be without either of them.

There is no one right way to anything, unless you subscribe to the Microsoft philosophy (one world, one internet, one OS, akin to Hitler's "ein Volk, ein Reich..." crap). None of us would want a steady diet of steak, without the occasional salad, potato, or glass of Merlot ... why should we accept any less diversity in our computing lives?

I created a GPL-like Free Media License in order to release my amatuer film work, as well as a novel (Warning - incomplete 1st draft, very rough!) and screenplay I am writing that dramatizes the conflict between the Copyright Cartels and the proponents of the free exchange of information.

I am of course an amateur, and no direct threat to Hollywood, but the license is available for anyone to use. A few people with more talent[1] than I making use of it could become a real reason for Hollywood to fear.

[1]Fortunately, my mediocre talent still far surpasses that of much of Hollywood's writers, though that isn't saying much I'm afraid.

I created a GPL-like Free Media License in order to release my amatuer film work, as well as a novel (Warning - incomplete 1st draft, very rough!) and screenplay I am writing that dramatizes the conflict between the Copyright Cartels and the proponents of the free exchange of information.

I am of course an amateur, and no direct threat to Hollywood, but the license is available for anyone to use. A few people with more talent[1] than I making use of it could become a real reason for Hollywood to fear.

[1]Fortunately, my mediocre talent still far surpasses that of much of Hollywood's writers, though that isn't saying much I'm afraid.

However, I must ask what kind of sycophancy inspired this article? For God's sake timothy, you're spending time detailing on how to wine and dine Mr. Stallman?

I actually enjoyed this article. It showed us the human side of RMS (complete with some quirks most computer junkies can relate to), in a different context than most articles about RMS or the FSF do. Interviews are a dime a dozen -- this article showed a different and very interesting side of the man, while at the same time imparting useful and important information to others who may wish to have him visit in a professional capacity.

As one who had his email ignored (no complaint here, my question had to do with my Free Media License, which is tangental to RMSes mission, and he is a busy man) I was happy to read how much time he spends sifting through and answering his emails. Strike one misconception on my part.

RMS is probably as used to hero worship as he is to villification, and I doubt he reads any more into this article than I did: namely that the guy liked him, enjoyed meeting him, and had revised some of his opinions and preconceptions about him after getting to know him.

I saw nothing in the article to remotely justify your use of the word "sycophancy" or "brownie points."

This is probably a waste of breath... err.. typing. Copyright is losing a lot of respect. This seems right given that the value that it once held for the public has been missing for quite some time.

You are not wasting your breath.

I happen to agree with you. I am trying to come up with a GPL-style approach to media copyrights, and am releasing some of my own work under a GPL-like Free Media License.

I agree that a more fundamental review (and perhaps repeal) of the proveleged copy restrictions we call copyright is long overdue.

This is probably a waste of breath... err.. typing. Copyright is losing a lot of respect. This seems right given that the value that it once held for the public has been missing for quite some time.

You are not wasting your breath.

I happen to agree with you. I am trying to come up with a GPL-style approach to media copyrights, and am releasing some of my own work under a GPL-like Free Media License.

I agree that a more fundamental review (and perhaps repeal) of the proveleged copy restrictions we call copyright is long overdue.

I quote the GPL:

"...but changing it is not allowed."

So, what legal position does this put KDE in, with their addition of the exception clause to the GPL explicitly allowing linkage to qt?

That, after all, is a change to the GPL.

Have folks, in an effort to fix one copyright/licensing problem, stumbled over another. It certainly appears so to me.

As an aside, I should note that I have made fair use of some portions of the GPL, GNU FDL, Open Content License, and others in putting together my Free Media License. I have the same clause, designed (as with the GPL) to prevent non-free licenses from masquerading as free licenses, but if one were to call the modified license by another name that shouldn't be an issue.

Perhaps I, and in the case of the GPL the FSF, should add a clause explicitly allowing modificatins so long as it is made clear that the modified license is not the Free Media License/GNU GPL ... after all, the creator of a Work has the privelege of licensing their work under any license they desire, which should logically include a modified GPL...

On the other hand, this could become a terrible can of worms for free software/media efforts, with ten million slightly different, slightly incompatible licenses floating around.

• My own OpenFlick.Org site
• The Open Content site
• The Copyright Commons effort.
• The Internet Public Media Project
  

• My own OpenFlick.Org site
• The Open Content site
• The Copyright Commons effort.
• The Internet Public Media Project
  

• My own OpenFlick.Org site
• The Open Content site
• The Copyright Commons effort.
• The Internet Public Media Project
  

The Free Software/Open Source paradigm has had a powerful impact on the computing industry, from the development of the internet and the world wide web, to the emergence of Linux and FreeBSD.

Recently you published an open license for publishers, extending some of the concepts of the GPL to another area of endeavor: book publication.

At openflick.org there is an effort I and other ware working on to extend this concept into the areas of music and video production, and I imagine there are numerous other projects which are similarly trying to create an "open commons" of material for their particular areas of interest as well.

Do you see the concepts embodied in the free software movement and the GPL being extended successfully into other areas of endeavor, and if so, what practical suggestions do you have for people trying to achieve this? What kinds of mistakes and pitfalls do you see, based on your experiences with creating the GPL? When looking for help in charting such new territory, what resources would you suggest one turn to for help?

• Mirror sites: please send your logs to /dev/null to protect the identity (and anonymouty) of your "customers" - i.e. those who download the files you are mirroring.
  
• Get involved politically - we have a moral duty to ourselves and our forfathers to make every effort to win our country back. While you can couch this obligation in whatever terms apply to whatever country you are in, I think it goes without saying that we all need to be involved, wherever we are, and fight these trends with all of the political weapons our democratic systems provide us, wherever we are. You can be certain the extremely well-financed opposition is doing so.
  
• Tell your friends and neighbors - Yes, you will be mocked by many of them. Thanks to the popular media apathy is very fashionable. Anyone expressing a passionate political view will be labelled a radical. Get over it, and express those views anyway. Peer pressure to remain silent and pretend not to care is one of the most insidious forms of censorship and social engineering, and we need to start standing up to it.
  
• Fight these trends on the grass-roots level (which most of us are doing anyway). In my case, I and a couple of friends are working on the open content concept of a new, free culture mentioned earlier here on slashdot. In a very real sense, every open source project is a grass roots effort in this respect. Get involved.
  
• Have a way out. We have a moral duty to ourselves and our families to have a an escape route, if and when things degenerate further. The notion of an Amercian needing to seek political asylum in Canada or Europe may sound (and seem) absurd, but remember that it has happened before (remember Oppenheimer? Not to mention thousands of conscientious objectors during the Vietnam war) and will most certainly happen again. Quite possibly to us, given the current state of technical and IP legislation.