This is like saying: "I've already paid enough on the car I own to legitimize the stolen one I have in my driveway."
If you're reason for fighting this law is to preserve your "right" to download bootleg copies off of the internet, then you've chosen the wrong reason. This bill is a *massive* affront to people's rights to do what they want with content that they have *bought*. It's also a fundamentally unsupportable requirement for all digital devices, programs, and etc. to have to enforce copy protection on behalf of content providers.
While I agree that the law is bad, a balance must be struck. The content producers have a right to make money off of the content. On the other hand people have the right, under fair-use doctrine, to make use of the content they purchased as they see fit. This means it's legitimate for me to copy my own CDs and put them on my hard drive, but not to copy my friends CDs even if I decide to buy a legitimate copy in the future.
No, but you are helping theives. People who buy into the piracy game (by purchasing bootleg copies) are encouraging more piracy.
> Why should we put up with all this crap?
We shouldn't have to put up with this. I think that this bill is wrong and it needs to be voted down. But, people like yourself and the pirate from whom you bought the bootleg, are making the situation worse for the rest of us by increasing the perception by the entertainment industry that we are *all* pirates.
The matter should be solved in the spirit of cooperation, not by legislating a solution.
> They shouldn't be able to do this to us, but > they will if we don't start talking to non- > techie people out there and getting people > informed about their dissapearing rights.
It's easy to say "pay everyone fairly" as an employee. It's much more difficult to justify as an employer. When someone comes in and you ask them "What are we looking at for salary?" it would be *foolish* in the *extreme* to tell them, "No, that's sounds low."
As an employer you are looking to maximize output for a minimum outlay of cash. It is up to the *employee* to determine when and if he/she is being paid fairly for his/her services.
I hope they do. You must ask yourself, "why are *we* considered such a threat?" I believe that it is because the Free Software and Open Source movements have always worked towards an "economy of plenty" whereas most companies create artificial scarcity to apply value to what they sell. Our goals threaten their bottom line.
I am glad that MS, Apple and others are opposing this and I hope that they succeed.
It's not about bandwidth, it's all about making money. It's just like anything else: Some sites will remain free, others will charge. Those that charge and can't compete will disappear and life will continue.
There are certain "blue" laws in this country which are no longer enforced, but are still on the books. I am aware of the flag burning law, but not of the law concerning homosexuality.
I didn't see, in any of the sites which I searched , the criteria for awarding the scores listed which were from 1-40 (where 40 is the "most free"). It also depends on how freedom is defined.
The US does not "stick it's nose in where it's not wanted" it watches out for it's own interests. If the rest of the world doesn't like it, too bad. Every other country on the face of the planet does the same thing, the US just has the advantage of being able to put some weight behind its foreign policy.
As far as police that "randomly beating up black people", statistics in this country do show evidence of racial profiling only in certain states (mostly the south). I agree that this is a problem, and steps are being taken at the federal level to put a stop to it. At least, in the US, a person who has commited a crime *has* rights. In most other countries you are presumed guilty and do not have the right to a speedy trial. I have heard stories about innocent people languishing in prison for years before their trial.
As far as "polluting the planet" is concerned the US is larger (except for Canada) than most of the countries on the planet (mostly those in Europe). It stands to reason that more pollutants will be produced.
As far as "sticking innocent programmers in prison" I am forced to agree with you all the way. One of the major problems the US government faces is corruption by large special interests. Governments in most other countries have similar problems, I suspect.
For some offenses I can agree with the death penalty (hate crimes, mass murder, etc.), but I think it should only be used as a last resort when rehabilitation is not possible.
My sig contains the URL for a petition against software patents. It would be good to present this petition at the hearings, or to at least bring it to the attention of those involved.
As far as human rights (i.e. the right to live, the right to express yourself, etc) the US is unsurpassed. The problem w/ this country is that it's political process is dominated, not by the people, but by big corporate special interest groups which use soft money to buy politicians.
In this country, unfortunately, might often makes right.
Please see my petition below to stop the patenting of trivial software solutions by large companies like the ones which backed the DMCA.
After about the fourth time seeing this in different forums as replies to different messages, it looses its humor. Please stick to the subject at hand.
This is very likely because some of the books used in public schools these days are agregiously out of date. History should be told equally from all possible viewpoints, otherwise the picture it paints is incomplete.
To call someone a hippocrite simple because they programmed in a language in which pointers are a major feature is misguided at best.
Also...
1) Java wasn't around when BSD was created
2) What person in their correct frame of mind would write an OS in Java anyway. (said w/ full knowledge of the fact that there are Java OS projects out there;) ).
GNU/Linux has been around since before RH and will continue to be around should RH disappear. It is not *the* only version of GNU/Linux available and it's *certainly* not the best.
Perhaps RH's disappearance or sellout will strengthen Linux. AOL has a great deal of financial muscle and could very well give Linux the backing it needs. On the other hand they could completely screw it up. Either way, it doesn't spell the end.
Slashdot Mirror
It's a deranged world we live in. Chew on this Intel:
Me Inside
You Inside
Knowledge Inside
Mac OS Inside
Linux Inside
DOS Inside
Motorola Inside
Who can believe the load of bull corporations are dealing out nowadays. The freaking lawyers are in charge.
Jeez...
GJC
Thinking it's a lost cause will make it one.
This is like saying: "I've already paid enough on the car I own to legitimize the stolen one I have in my driveway."
If you're reason for fighting this law is to preserve your "right" to download bootleg copies off of the internet, then you've chosen the wrong reason. This bill is a *massive* affront to people's rights to do what they want with content that they have *bought*. It's also a fundamentally unsupportable requirement for all digital devices, programs, and etc. to have to enforce copy protection on behalf of content providers.
While I agree that the law is bad, a balance must be struck. The content producers have a right to make money off of the content. On the other hand people have the right, under fair-use doctrine, to make use of the content they purchased as they see fit. This means it's legitimate for me to copy my own CDs and put them on my hard drive, but not to copy my friends CDs even if I decide to buy a legitimate copy in the future.
Later, GJC
> Am I a theif?
No, but you are helping theives. People who buy into the piracy game (by purchasing bootleg copies) are encouraging more piracy.
> Why should we put up with all this crap?
We shouldn't have to put up with this. I think that this bill is wrong and it needs to be voted down. But, people like yourself and the pirate from whom you bought the bootleg, are making the situation worse for the rest of us by increasing the perception by the entertainment industry that we are *all* pirates.
The matter should be solved in the spirit of cooperation, not by legislating a solution.
> They shouldn't be able to do this to us, but
> they will if we don't start talking to non-
> techie people out there and getting people
> informed about their dissapearing rights.
Agreed.
GJC
(C)omputers (B)y (D)isney (T)o (P)rotect (A)nimation.
I too have joined the EFF and have written all of my congressional representatives.
We need to take action now! Please write your representatives about this terrible bill.
GJC
Ugly doesn't adequetly describe it...
My sig contains a URL to an anti-patents petition.
Fascinating stuff!!
It's easy to say "pay everyone fairly" as an employee. It's much more difficult to justify as an employer. When someone comes in and you ask them "What are we looking at for salary?" it would be *foolish* in the *extreme* to tell them, "No, that's sounds low."
As an employer you are looking to maximize output for a minimum outlay of cash. It is up to the *employee* to determine when and if he/she is being paid fairly for his/her services.
GJC
I hope they do. You must ask yourself, "why are *we* considered such a threat?" I believe that it is because the Free Software and Open Source movements have always worked towards an "economy of plenty" whereas most companies create artificial scarcity to apply value to what they sell. Our goals threaten their bottom line.
I am glad that MS, Apple and others are opposing this and I hope that they succeed.
GJC
It's my belief that some of these companies are participating in this simply because they know it will damage the competition.
Damn our gonvernment and it corrupt politicians.
It's not about bandwidth, it's all about making money. It's just like anything else: Some sites will remain free, others will charge. Those that charge and can't compete will disappear and life will continue.
GJC
This is nothing but marketing BS and FUD. Sun is loosing a great deal of business recently due to the introduction of Linux into the server market.
GJC
There are certain "blue" laws in this country which are no longer enforced, but are still on the books. I am aware of the flag burning law, but not of the law concerning homosexuality.
GJC
I didn't see, in any of the sites which I searched , the criteria for awarding the scores listed which were from 1-40 (where 40 is the "most free"). It also depends on how freedom is defined.
The US does not "stick it's nose in where it's not wanted" it watches out for it's own interests. If the rest of the world doesn't like it, too bad. Every other country on the face of the planet does the same thing, the US just has the advantage of being able to put some weight behind its foreign policy.
As far as police that "randomly beating up black people", statistics in this country do show evidence of racial profiling only in certain states (mostly the south). I agree that this is a problem, and steps are being taken at the federal level to put a stop to it. At least, in the US, a person who has commited a crime *has* rights. In most other countries you are presumed guilty and do not have the right to a speedy trial. I have heard stories about innocent people languishing in prison for years before their trial.
As far as "polluting the planet" is concerned the US is larger (except for Canada) than most of the countries on the planet (mostly those in Europe). It stands to reason that more pollutants will be produced.
As far as "sticking innocent programmers in prison" I am forced to agree with you all the way. One of the major problems the US government faces is corruption by large special interests. Governments in most other countries have similar problems, I suspect.
For some offenses I can agree with the death penalty (hate crimes, mass murder, etc.), but I think it should only be used as a last resort when rehabilitation is not possible.
GJC
My sig contains the URL for a petition against software patents. It would be good to present this petition at the hearings, or to at least bring it to the attention of those involved.
Thanks, GJC
As far as human rights (i.e. the right to live, the right to express yourself, etc) the US is unsurpassed. The problem w/ this country is that it's political process is dominated, not by the people, but by big corporate special interest groups which use soft money to buy politicians.
In this country, unfortunately, might often makes right.
Please see my petition below to stop the patenting of trivial software solutions by large companies like the ones which backed the DMCA.
GJC
Snyde comment: If you had no idea you could copy games w/ it, why did you specify in your posting on eBay, that you had done so?
Just a thought.
GJC
P.S. I think this sucks royally as well... see my petition below to stop another type of intellectual land grab by big companies.
After about the fourth time seeing this in different forums as replies to different messages, it looses its humor. Please stick to the subject at hand.
GJC
This is very likely because some of the books used in public schools these days are agregiously out of date. History should be told equally from all possible viewpoints, otherwise the picture it paints is incomplete.
GJC
That's the spirit!! I absolutely agree with this!
People change... styles change...
;) ).
To call someone a hippocrite simple because they programmed in a language in which pointers are a major feature is misguided at best.
Also...
1) Java wasn't around when BSD was created
2) What person in their correct frame of mind would write an OS in Java anyway. (said w/ full knowledge of the fact that there are Java OS projects out there
Later, GJC
Why would Bill Joy want to create a piece of software which would be contrary to his own interests in the Java language?
GJC
GNU/Linux has been around since before RH and will continue to be around should RH disappear. It is not *the* only version of GNU/Linux available and it's *certainly* not the best.
Perhaps RH's disappearance or sellout will strengthen Linux. AOL has a great deal of financial muscle and could very well give Linux the backing it needs. On the other hand they could completely screw it up. Either way, it doesn't spell the end.
Later,
Cheers,