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Use Open Source? Then You're a Pirate!

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the and-proud-of-it dept.

superapecommando writes "There's a fantastic little story in the Guardian today that says a US lobby group is trying to get the US government to consider open source as the equivalent to piracy. The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA), an umbrella group for American publishing, software, film, television and music associations, has asked the US Trade Representative (USTR) to consider countries like Indonesia, Brazil, and India for its 'Special 301 watchlist' because they encourage the use of open source software. A Special 301, according to Guardian's Bobbie Johnson is: 'a report that examines the "adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property rights" around the planet — effectively the list of countries that the US government considers enemies of capitalism. It often gets wheeled out as a form of trading pressure — often around pharmaceuticals and counterfeited goods — to try and force governments to change their behaviors.'"

15 of 650 comments (clear)

  1. if everyone ignored the quacks... by Em+Emalb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Then the world would be a better place. Although, I kinda like the idea of being a pirate. I've always wanted to sail the open seas, plundering vessels, going ashore and plundering the village's wenches. AARRGGG.

    --
    Sent from your iPad.
    1. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, ignoring the quacks with influence is just ducking the issue.

    2. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by Em+Emalb · · Score: 5, Funny

      that's a good way to run afowl of the law.

      --
      Sent from your iPad.
    3. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by Abcd1234 · · Score: 5, Funny

      AARRGGG.

      Dude... "arg"? What kind of pirate says "arg"? Everyone knows it's "ARRRRR!" Other valid alternatives include: YARRRR, YUHARRR, or other variations therefore. A trailing G should only be used in cases of pain or discomfort. For example: "AAARG, I've been run through by ye blade!", or "ARRRG, I think that wench had ye crotch rot".

    4. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


      Dude... "arg"? What kind of pirate says "arg"?

      A pirate who just had a cutlass jammed through his chest.

      .

      --
      Trolling is a art,
    5. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by socceroos · · Score: 5, Funny

      Parent is right, then you're either thrown in jail or slapped with a hefty bill.

    6. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by socceroos · · Score: 5, Funny

      The question then is: waddle we do about it?

    7. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by Thud457 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Dude... "arg"? What kind of pirate says "arg"?

      obviously a C-faring pirate!

      --

      the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    8. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by Gabrosin · · Score: 5, Funny

      That's a very mallardramatic thing to say.

    9. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by Jarjarthejedi · · Score: 5, Funny

      Perhaps he was dictating?

      --
      There are two kinds of fool One says 'This is old therefore good' Another says 'This is new therefore better'- Dean Ing
    10. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by Darinbob · · Score: 5, Funny

      I don't like the tern this thread has taken.

    11. Re:if everyone ignored the quacks... by Blue+Stone · · Score: 5, Funny

      Make an eggsample of them?

      --
      Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. - Ambrose Bierce
  2. Re:If you use open source, you're a pirate... by medv4380 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Then you got a lil Captain in ya

  3. Re:Seriously flawed logic by pclminion · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you think I would prefer a bug report over a beer then you have some serious brain damage.

  4. Re:Aaaarrrrggg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    spanish_main( int arrrrrgc, char *arrrrrgv[] )