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McBride's New Open Letter on Copyrights

dtfinch writes "An open letter was posted today by Darl McBride, where he restates his claim that the GPL violates the U.S. Constitution, patent laws, copyright laws, and the DMCA. Mostly he just builds up a false image of the Free Software Foundation and open source supporters claiming that they have no respect for intellectual property and believe copyrights should be eliminated, then attacks that image, AKA the straw man attack. Nothing we haven't seen before."

3 of 770 comments (clear)

  1. And you thought the law was dry by Our+Man+In+Redmond · · Score: 5, Informative

    Take a look at this document (note: it's a PDF file). It's written in legalese, but if you read between the lines, it shows what happens when a lawyer loses patience. Basically, IBM's law firm can't call SCO a bunch of liars, cheats, four-flushers and shysters in a court document, but this document sure makes it sound like they wish they could. Highly entertaining, and highly recommended.

    --
    Someone you trust is one of us.
  2. Re:Closed Letter by sy161e · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'd say the funny part about the author's rants and raves about Red Hat are contradicted in the link provided:

    Red Hat has aggressively lobbied Congress to eliminate software patents and copyrights.

    However, after visiting the site, the only word used is "patent," the only occurance of "copyright" is at the bottom of the page claiming that it's a &copy of Redhat.

  3. Re:Irony abounds. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    >the lawyers wrote it...

    IAAL. I can assure you that the PR people wrote it with a smattering of legalese dusted on top. The "arguments" are incoherent, the "authorities" are off the point while the rant at the outset about copy-left, etc. is completely irrelevant.

    I must admit to admiring the ability to spout this rubbish with a straight face. :)