It's simply an issue of making our concerns manifest. We feel that the system could be abused, so abuse it. That will convince them better than any arguments. If they actually come up with a system which can't be abused, then more power to them. I don't think it's gonna happen, but if it did, then I wouldn't have any problem with it.
As far as I can tell, all they say is that they can tweak an array in such a way that it begins to imitate 3 dimensional space with the occasional local distortion. While this is a cool trick, it doesn't say anything about the nature of the universe.
Re:Open source becoming too commercial
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Giving Back
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· Score: 1
I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think the open source movement is becoming more commercial, it's just that all the commercial parts of the open source movement are drawing all the attention. It's not news if some geek is writing software for free, it's news when some company can make millions off of that geeks work.
It seems to me that there is a significant chance that the MPAA will win this case. This is unfortunate, but I don't think it's catastrophic. Although it is likely that they will keep control of the DVD standard, and therefore DVD devices as well, something will come along sooner or later which makes DVDs obsolete. I think that if there is a standard open format out there waiting for it, they won't have an opportunity to pull the shenanigans they've pulled with DVDs. Engaging the MPAA directly directly is not likely to succeed, but take a look at Linux and Microsoft. Linux isn't succeeding by bringing lawsuits against Microsoft. Linux succeeds by ignoring Microsoft, doing it's own thing, and doing it well. If people can do that in this arena, it is likely to be successful.
This is fun. Either you are only required to give them the plain text of any encrypted materials, or you are also required to give them the key. If you are only required to give them the plaintext, then any data you give them is unverifiable. If you have to give them the key, then you are required to break the encryption on any DVDs you possess:) I wonder if anyone has pointed this out to the MPAA...
Another thing I should note is that it's possible to not be part of the 'in' crowd without being persecuted. I was never particularly popular in high school, but I never had to worry about anyone giving me shit. I didn't hang out with most other kids, because most other kids weren't interested in what I was interested in. Being interested in computers is not an inherently virtuous characteristic.
I don't understand all this hoopla over GUIs. I mean, if you want a user interface, write one. If you don't want one, then you don't have a problem. If you want one, but don't know how to write it yourself, pay someone else to write one. Frankly, it's no skin off my back if other people decide that linux is too complicated for them to use.
Y'know, so far nobody has mentioned what is, IMHO the most entertaining way to fight UCITA. Instead of writing letters to your representatives (boring and tedious), let UCITA pass. Then, start a small software company, and sell 20 or thirty copies of whatever it is you make. Then add a clause to your EULA stating that you now own the users Immortal Soul:) UCITA will be revoked so fast your head will spin (if it wasn't spinning already, in regards to the Immortal Soul agreement:)
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It's simply an issue of making our concerns manifest. We feel that the system could be abused, so abuse it. That will convince them better than any arguments. If they actually come up with a system which can't be abused, then more power to them. I don't think it's gonna happen, but if it did, then I wouldn't have any problem with it.
As far as I can tell, all they say is that they can tweak an array in such a way that it begins to imitate 3 dimensional space with the occasional local distortion. While this is a cool trick, it doesn't say anything about the nature of the universe.
I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think the open source movement is becoming more commercial, it's just that all the commercial parts of the open source movement are drawing all the attention. It's not news if some geek is writing software for free, it's news when some company can make millions off of that geeks work.
It seems to me that there is a significant chance that the MPAA will win this case. This is unfortunate, but I don't think it's catastrophic. Although it is likely that they will keep control of the DVD standard, and therefore DVD devices as well, something will come along sooner or later which makes DVDs obsolete. I think that if there is a standard open format out there waiting for it, they won't have an opportunity to pull the shenanigans they've pulled with DVDs. Engaging the MPAA directly directly is not likely to succeed, but take a look at Linux and Microsoft. Linux isn't succeeding by bringing lawsuits against Microsoft. Linux succeeds by ignoring Microsoft, doing it's own thing, and doing it well. If people can do that in this arena, it is likely to be successful.
This is fun. Either you are only required to give them the plain text of any encrypted materials, or you are also required to give them the key. If you are only required to give them the plaintext, then any data you give them is unverifiable. If you have to give them the key, then you are required to break the encryption on any DVDs you possess :) I wonder if anyone has pointed this out to the MPAA...
Another thing I should note is that it's possible to not be part of the 'in' crowd without being persecuted. I was never particularly popular in high school, but I never had to worry about anyone giving me shit. I didn't hang out with most other kids, because most other kids weren't interested in what I was interested in. Being interested in computers is not an inherently virtuous characteristic.
I don't understand all this hoopla over GUIs. I mean, if you want a user interface, write one. If you don't want one, then you don't have a problem. If you want one, but don't know how to write it yourself, pay someone else to write one. Frankly, it's no skin off my back if other people decide that linux is too complicated for them to use.
If the chinese government is so weak that it feels menaced by websites, they deserve our pity, not our flames ;)
Y'know, so far nobody has mentioned what is, IMHO the most entertaining way to fight UCITA. Instead of writing letters to your representatives (boring and tedious), let UCITA pass. Then, start a small software company, and sell 20 or thirty copies of whatever it is you make. Then add a clause to your EULA stating that you now own the users Immortal Soul :) UCITA will be revoked so fast your head will spin (if it wasn't spinning already, in regards to the Immortal Soul agreement :)