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Bruce Perens Plans On-Stage DMCA Violation
cyber_rigger writes: "From this
article at infoworld Bruce Perens said he plans to break the DMCA
during a presentation on digital rights management (DRM) Friday afternoon
at the O'Reilly Open Source Convention in San Diego. Technically, under the DMCA, Perens' explanation
of the technology makes him liable for a fine of US$500,000. You have to
admire his spirit."
I love the idea of grabbing "mindshare" (/me crosses himself after uttering evil marketingspeak) through good old-fashioned media whoring. Circus ring tactics are essential in the modern computer business. Remember Jay Leno's TV special introducing Windows 95? Or when that Microsoft dude was dancing or whatever? Steve Jobs practically invented tech-biz dramatics.
This will only help in the battle to get Free Software and the FSF taken more seriously by the public. Maybe we can arrange to have someone dressed in a Tux costume as well. Juggling burning Windows XP CDs.
Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
If Americans don't stand up more forcefully, the US will either infect the whole world with their orwellian shite
This, coming from an EU citizen...
Why in the hell is it illegal to modify property that you already own?
Welcome to Dick Cheney's America.
ok, but here's the thing. fFree speech or not, fFor some reason, software fFalls under a different set of guidelines. talking about murder in public is okay. demonstrating how to rape women is legal. probably wont win you any fFriends, but it's legal. (then again, it's done wonders fFor eminem's social circle)
but talk about software piracy in public or private? yer going to the klink, buddy!
Perens' protest plan:
"The DVD industry uses regional encoding to control consumers, so we're going to play this UK DVD on a US player."
reminds me of a plan we've seen before:
"Terrence and Phillip are supposed to be killed, so we think we should crank call a bunch of policeman and have pizzas sent to them that they didn't order. Viva la resistance!"
I think we need a snobby kid who attended Yardale and had a 4.0 grade point average to come up with something a little more effective.
Oh, yeah. And Kyle's mom is a bitch.
If his balls are that big, I am sure he'll make loads of friends in jail!
I'll do it for cheesy poofs.
Sounds English, maybe?
An Education is the Font of All Liberty
Luther and calvin were just new masters, we need NO MASTERS.
An Education is the Font of All Liberty
So, if Mr. Perens is arrested, how many of you so-called geeks are going to boycott Hollywood movies, RIAA music, cancel your cable/dish TV, etc. I hope every single one of you--for anyone who does not is a flaming hypocrite. And you'd better spread the word to your neighbors as well. DMCA is no small violation of our basic freedoms and it needs fought tooth and nail.
And like any good boycott, you can help promote substitutes as well:
- off-air television (get yourself a Terk TV-55 or similar)
- local bands / unsigned online artists
- independent films
- trade existing movies with friends but don't buy into anything new