Doing some kind of entrepreneurship for living all my life, since I've fixed a Pioneer audio amplifier, using Soviet equivalent of some US power transistors for a older grade guy at school at age of 13 for the equivalent of one average monthly wage back then in the 80s back there in the USSR:-)... I can't agree more with your point - bringing product to market is so much more then an 'invention'. In practical terms you need to do invention (the "great idea" part), R&D, engineering, packaging the product, marketing, sales, tech support. Invention is only 1/7th of the total effort. And it should better be in tune with marketing. One famous Russian/Soviet biologist (Timofeev-Risovskij) favorite saying was - "Unimplemented ideas are worth nothing". Therefore, the patent system should (and that was the original intention) only protect small company product from being copied by others. Since big corporations should have other ways to make it's products compete well - better packaging, better marketing, better tech support, better pricing (economy of scale) afterwords. Patent system should not be used to replace R&D and scientific research.
I do believe that people in the US would be able to stop the slide away from freedom and democracy without going the the lows that Europe (inluding Russia) had to suffer in the 20th century.
Now, I'm not sure what to criticize for Russian Parliament or President in terms of freedom of computing. Microsoft copyright (or anybody else's for that matter) is not enforced in any way here. As I said, even databases with taxpayers information are sold in small shops all around the city. DVD sets with "complete Microsoft" etc. New movies show up packed up to 8 movies per DVD disk, playable on standard DVD players (not MPEG4). Linux shows up slowly in this mix of software.
I have recently submitted a complain to Putin about the new regulation for customs limitation of 35 kg for personal travel. There is a complain department with his administration and if enough citizens complain or offer to do something it gets reviewed. He may or may not decide to act on this, but so far he was quite a populist, i.e. something that got lots of people pissed off usually gets changed. English version of the page is here (I've used Russian version of course)http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/articles/send_let ter_Eng1.shtml
This is a kind of direct link to the top of the Govt. is good IMHO. Being able to submit through the Web is very nice also. I'm working on a letter in relation to OSS and Linux support and anti- Microsoft and Hollywood regulation, to relieve them of the copyright priviledge for monopolistic abuse and passing totalitarian laws around the world.
Now, I know what mass repressions are if not by my personal experience, then by my grandfather generation relatives. DMCA and new law in Germany that makes unauthorized software copying a criminal offense is bona fide ground for mass repressions in the West. This is the law, that being enforced would put 10-20% of the population in jail. There is no such law in the works in Russia, and if there would be one it would get repelled. Companies that sell unauthorized copies are facing a fine, it's regulated by civil law (like it should, like it was in the US not so long ago).
And even more fortunate (or unfortunate, since it promotes the use of non OSS products) is the fact that copyrighted materials are sold freely in Russia unlicensed, although there is constant pressure from Microsoft and their ilk to stop it.
I believe the copyright law would not get abused in Russia, like it is in the US and now in EU for one simple reason - Russia is not a producer of content, and EU does not have an option of not using Russian natural gas. And there are no powerful Russian lobbies in favor of DMCA-like laws. And current legislation making foreign interests groups very restricted in Russia gives us hope it would stay this way.
So, I sincerely wish to all my fellow Microsoft wannabees (non OSS based) Russian IT companies to get fought to dust and get lost:-)
"it should not be required of a citizen to explain their daily actions on the basis that they look suspicious"
But of course if you're not blessed with US citizenship and happen to be just a permanent resident or, God forbid, work here on an H1 visa, then, of course, you HAVE to explain why you LOOK suspicious.
And my personal experience that just not being blessed with US citizenship and travelling to the country of your citizenship 5-6 times a year, for quite open computer related business, is enough to be put on a list of 5 million people residing in the US that are "possibly related to terrorists".
And if you think that I'm an arab, or from Iran, or have anything to do with such, or like them, or is affiliated in any way - not that I'm aware of. Fortunately I'm a free citizen of a free country (Russia), about the only place in the World where I can respectfully disagree with the US.
The path the US is following now is without heart and is NOT bringing you to the temple. And what's the point of a path like that?
I'm sitting in Moscow, Russia and my internet connection is at 10 Mbits, it's my own home and I think that 10-BaseT cable for Intenet access is the best. It costs me $30/month.
My experience with programming is like this: First, you make an estimate that to code this you would need about a week. Out of your lifetime of experience you know that it would be prudent to say 4 weeks to the customer. Then, in 4 weeks you figured about 4 problems. But, shit, you got one left. It should take about a week. In a week you solved that problem, but, shit, you got one left. It should take about a week. In a week you solved that problem, but, shit, you got one left.... Repeat previous 2 sentences with probability 0.69... And all of a sudden a day comes when you can call for a demo... Wow! How come that's not "random reward" ? And, as a matter of fact this model is simplified - the probability is not fixed at.69 And, while coding, the structure of rewards is similar.
I remember one of the best times I had in my life was back then in 1985 when I was playing "Collosal Cave Adventure" on 8086 and since I could not figure the game out I started disassmblying the game and patching the binary executable image to get to the next room... or get en extra object...
I still remember the unwelcome sunrise and amber glow of monochrome Hercules terminal... "Plugh"...
I have spent 13 years of my life in the US and moved back to Moscow, Russia recently. The reason was that from day one in the US I felt like I'm "back in the USSR" in some strange way - capitalizm, sure, but also lack of freedom,and there was much more freedom in Russia in 1992, and it is still lots left, although the constant anti-freedom pressure from the West and US on these topics is felt: a) copyright (although, my economical and political beliefs are Linux/GNU/FSF, and repressive law against Windows lusers benefits me economically). And prohibiting hollywood movies and music would only benefit (any) country. b) war on (some) drugs - overall policy that results in black market prices grouth for said products, with strong govt. corruption and consumption grow, accoppanied by constant media hypocrasy. c) human rights erosion under the pretext of "war on terror" - like x-raying my boots and stealing my nail-clippers at the airports, phone and internet surveillance. Although - right now in Moscow you can buy 1) anonymous GSM phone card 2) anonymous internet access card 3) anonumous electronic cash cards 4) cannabis seeds selling and buying is legal d) prostitution - at least it's still not a criminal offense in Russia, for private, individual relation between two (or more:-) conscenting adults. There are so many reasons why people might want to have sex, I don't see why govt. should be involved at all. And the girls are very good IMHO. Just look up on the Web. e) erosion of state/church separation - but at least in Russian schools children are not forced to pledge submission to Govt. and GOD on a daily basis f) untill now complete databases for all private information from phone numbers, to passport, drivers license, property, taxes paid were available for no more then $30 complete set. Unfortunately lately FSB(KGB) got upset that such complete information discosure was available to anybody, not just them. But, Westen position on this is such - give that wealth of information only to Govt. agencies. Whereas, if there is no choice, better everybody has it, rather then only Govt.
Speaking of "Pirate Bay" - well, firstly, I prefer eMule. Secondly, I never bother to download movies since on every metro station there are kiosks that sell DVDs with up to 8-6 latest Holywood shit movies on a two sided disk (russian creativity!:) for $3 each. And most latest software for evil OS (MS-Windows).
p.s. my wife delivers a baby in 10 days and althouth I can't say it was not without a hassle to get all paperwork and state medical insurance papers - it's free. We probably feel obligated to tip doctor with $200-$300 for delivery, but that's our choice and in case we were broke it would still be the same hospital and doctor. And Govt. gives a $250 bonus for a newborn baby. Of course it costs a hell more to rise a child, but:-)
Now, I do hate socializm:-) "Those that trade freedom for some security end up with neither"
I'm a Linux video hardware manufacturer with GNU GPL drivers. I *DREAM* of the day when nobody else is producing non-DRM hardware. We would then come up with a great new product called "General Purpose DRM-Free Personal Computer" and we'll be very rich soon. That's assuming that no one else would be offering such a beast, but it's still legal to manufacture non-DRM equipment. Which is unlikely.
More probable scenario is that they would make it illegal to manufacture/sell and own non-DRM equipment - but that's even BETTER from my business standpoint, since then non-DRM hardware design,manufacturing, sales and distribution would be more profitable then illegal drugs are now. And non-DRM equipment is probably better for health then substances of abuse:-)
Linus believes that Linux momentum before we enter DRM reality is more important for success of future computer/internet underground. RMS wants to spend open source momentum trying to slow down the transition to DRM. You be the judge. But if we don't get into DRM world (and I would not get very rich or go to jail:-( ) - Linus's strategy works better then.
Bill Gates's argument is/was fundamentally wrong because he assumes that software should be protected by the conventional copyright law.
The original copyright law grants author of the book (or other artistic expression) a limited (50 years) monopoly to produce copies of the book.
Free market functioning is based on the assumption that prices for goods and services are determined by the interaction of supply and demand, nobody owns the market and people are coming into transaction on their own free will and are free to enter and exit the marketplace on both supply and demand side.
On the other hand for the given book, no matter how good the book is there are always thousands of other good books in print. If price on a book is set much higher then for other books of the same kind most customers would not buy that overpriced book. Therefore, a limited monopoly for the book author can be granted by the society.
On the other hand, one does not have a choice whether to use Microsoft Windows or not. Although some applications exist for other platforms there is huge number of mission-critical applications in different fields that are only available for MS Windows.
Therefore conventional copyright law should not be applicable to software. The question whether a particular software item has a monopoly for these kind of software applications should be considered and the protection granted should set differently.
Then, there would be true free market, a.k.a capitalism for software, for now it's more like a feudal system, where there is one dominant virtual-land owner, serfs and the rebellion a.k.a GNU/OpenSource/Linux crowd.
Same reasoning (i.e. lack of free/open marketplace for both supply and demand side) can be applied to video contend production - i.e. more then 80% of the movies produced by one cartel (Hollywood), no real choice - therefore there shall be no copyright protection for Hollywood movies as well. At least not blanket copyright protection.
And the history of mankind shows that as soon as the society gets away from FARE playing that results in revolutions very quickly. I'm an optimist personally:-)
Speaking of "Communist Russia" - I'm a proud citizen of Free Country, namely Russian Federation. Hey, US comrades - have YOU changed the regime in your country from Police State to Weak Democratic State lately?
But you MUST carry an ID in Russia. Now, 200 years ago, 100 years ago and 50 years ago for sure. If you don't - you can be detained for up to several hours for police to find out who you are. There is no way though you can be ARRESTED for that, or that you would get a record for forgeting or loosing your ID.
But I can not imagine police searching my car for MJ. I can not imagine police getting interested if I had a fight with my mother, father, doughter, girlfriend. That is our private space - if someone is hurt and pissed off they can file a paper. And the paper can be withdrown before it gets to court. Gross situations are taken care of, but not domestic disputes. There is real crime to be taken care of.
Prostitution is only an administrative offence, like speeding. And it does not get on your records (same as speeding, BTW). Of course Europe sets a positive example for that, I just can't believe you can call a country "free", when state tells you with whom, how and on which conditions you are ALOWED to have sex, and when not. So - sex for money is illegal, but sex for... getting permit to live in the US is legal. Go figure.
To illustrate - once in Moscow I picked up a prostitute from a roadside. As we started to drive police car showed up and I had to stop. They asked HER for ID (get it!). She had one that was OK. Then what did they say to her? "Hey, baby, you are driving with this man you don't know, don't come crying to us if you get in trouble". She said - OK, and we left for a night of something more pleasant. Important point is that I did not feel any concern when I was pulled - I have not done anything illegal. They did not bother to check my papers, since they were police, not MV-inspection.
On top of that - there are good laws, and there are bad laws. In Russia, you can always bribe your way out, this is another (better) line of defense against stupid laws. And if you remember OJ case - you can do it in the US as well, even for murder, provided ENOUGH money are pumped in. In Russia, being a free country, you need much much less for taking care of stupid laws.
The sad news is that historic experience shows that countries oscillate from freedom to tyrany - it's just too bad US are on the swing to Police State right now.
A good answer to DMCA would be to come up with a new reasonable license.
Let's call it "Fair Copy License"...
The outline would be something like that:
you are allowed to make backup copies and copies on different media for personal/family use
you are allowed to make and give away copies on an individual basis
copies from copies are not allowed
any monetary or bartering gain from distributing copies is not allowed, with the exception of getting copies of other material licensed same way in exchange
Non individual copies are not allowed - i.e. by placing material on the Internet for unattended downloads or posting on the Usenet.
This kind of license is a much better deal for content customers, and it's a better deal for artists as well, since "fair copying" acts as a very good promotion mechanism. Revenue lost on unpaid copies is more then compensated by reduced advertising expenses and increase in sales due to "grassroots" promotion.
Of course there is no free market for entertainment content.
I'm amazed at all these naive posts on/. saying they don't "know" what's CD printing cost. Just do a search on "printing CDs" and you would find that in a qty of 1000 you can have them printed for $0.90 a piece, with a box and a paper insert, DVDs - same for $2.00.
So, what is reasonable sale price for them - I would say with over 400% profit - $5 is very reasonable. So, all you RIAA agents vining about "Napster Kids" asking for $5 pricing - shut up and enjoy this illegal (in terms of antitrust) situation while it lasts. And if you sell DVDs at $5 - then you'll have to "starve" on a 150% profit...
The fact that CDs and DVDs are not selling at $5 proves that there is NO such thing as a free market for these goods and services. Learn to live with that all you libertarian buddies:-) And $2 profit per CD is more then enough to feed the artist, as well as run the studio and other supporting services.
If you believe in the freedom of speech (and lot's of constitutions in the world do confirm this principle) you shall oppose the DVD. It's the propriatory media, where there is an organization that decides whether to give me the license to produce the content. I think the constitutional amendment is due - "Mass media data format shall not be propriatory copyrighted or patented"
Chechen military is well trained, armed and funded from abroad.
One may agree or disagree with their goals (muslim world domination), but they are not defenseless civilians.
Yes, this war happens in the cities and civilians suffer in Chechnya, as they did suffer in Moscow when three 9 stories apartment buildings were exploded during the summer of 1999 (before the military compain agains Chechnya started). Not a government building, like in Omaha for example...
Of course tapping the Internet is very bad. Russian wisdom says though - "the severity of Russian laws is relieved only by the fact that they are not well enforced". Same can not be said about the US...
On a road to a police state it's very important to ensure that media is controlled tight. Look 10-15 years into the future if trends exemplified by DVD are allowed to develop. You can't distribute video - the only format being DVD that you can't create unless you got a license from the powers. You can't distribute audio, since the open MP3 standard was declared illegal. You can't distribute even written matter, since publishers afraid of copyright violations enforced that the only format text can be distributed in is closed and has to by licensed. And any of these licensed can be revoked for a lot of reasons. The only was to speak freely - is in your kitchen - well, congratulations, it's not 1984, it's 2014...
How many times have we read here "a company is ONLY in existence to make money" myth?
Well, this statement makes about as much sense as saying "I live in order to eat", as opposed to "I eat in order to live".
Most ethical companies exist in order to provide a service or sell a product that they like. Because if you don't like what you're doing you're gonna produce crap. And no amount of money thrown at you can change that. Just look at Microsoft for an example.
Making money is just the condition for company to exist, a lot of choices exist as to how actually make money. Some of them ethical, some of them not.
Linux Media Labs offers MJPEG hardware for Linux and I want to comment on some widespread misconceptions about MJPEG vs. MPEG performance.
Full rate, broadcast quality signal (D1) at 720x480@30frames/sec with 4:2:2 color (2 bytes/pixel) has a data rate of 20 MByte/sec. Now, with 1:10 compression the image quality is very good, especially since there is 60 fields per second with noise caused by lossy compression averaged out. So, D1 quality requires 2 Mbyte/sec bandwidth. That is about 7 Gbyte/hour. DVD disks have 4.7 Mbyte of capacity and hold about 2 hours of video. Therefore with all hoops and patents MPEG-2 has 3 times better performance. I would argue though that D1 encoded with MJPEG at 1:10 compression is much better quality then DVD, and don't forget that it's a 4:2:2 color, not 4:2:0 one as in DVD.
Let up now go to VHS (MPEG1) qualiity and also reduce frame rate to 15 frames/sec. There would be no flicker since our video frame buffer still allows our CRT to be refreshed at 60 fields per second. 320x240@15frames/sec at 4:2:2 (2 bytes/pixel) gives us 2.2Gbyte/sec uncompressed and with 1:15 JPEG compression (certainly better then VHS) gives 150 Kbyte/sec. MPEG1 data rate is about 180Kbyte/sec - i.e. MPEG1 is no better then simular quality MJPEG.
Advantages of MJPEG:
Patent clean
Less complex algorithms
Frame accurate editing/positioning
Better video quality
Therefore maybe Linux should use MJPEG as a standard for handling video.
Speaking of codecs - nothing prevents Open Source community from creating a first class MJPEG codec. As a matter of fact we're working right now on a MJPEG viewing application, simular to xanim from the user prospective but optimized for MJPEG with the requirement to playback 720x480@30fps on resonable hardware and it's under GNU GPL of course. If anybody has some top performing (assembly language?) JPEG code (DCT/Huffman) or desire to work on such (under GNU GPL) I would like to talk very much.
The main question after reading through their FAQ - their copy prevention solution is a special software that you need to read the document. Is there a Linux version? If it's another Winodoze only solution I'm not interested.
I think there should be a simular facility in the Linux world. So that books can be written and downloaded for a small resonalble fee (which does not even contradict GNU GPL) - like $2-3 for example. Imagine if Linus would publish a book on his vision of Linux development. If couple million people download that paying $3, then he would not have to starve for the rest of his life:-)
No encryption bullshit of course (since it can be cracked to begin with). Don't base your business on unrealstic assumptions (that floppies don't copy).
If you'd say that Bill Gates needs to be expropriated (in a legal process) of a good portion of his wealth that was acqired with gross violations of the business law spirit and letter - I would agree.
But I can not deny anybody, or any corporation the right to release an application for Linux platform. As long as he does not control the platform, and with GNU GPL license on Linux that is not possible without further violations of the law, which is not a problem for Bill Gates, but we can assume a lot of fun legal action in that case.
If not for GNU foundation and GNU GPL license Linux would not be where it is now. GNU GPL is viral and that is GOOD. Greedy Perl documentation writers can go and screw themselfs, not that is matters too much for Linux. p.s. I'm very sorry I bought his book, I need to check with the store if I can return it. I paid $$$ for that stuff, so him pissing on GNU/RMS pisses me off!
We need to set up a GNU GPL legal defence fund. We need to find about 10,000 companies/individuals to contribute $100. It is doable - look at the amateur radio (ARRL) for an example. Sorry, but inside the US that is the way to do things.
Slashdot Mirror
Doing some kind of entrepreneurship for living all my life, since I've fixed a Pioneer audio amplifier, using Soviet equivalent of some US power transistors for a older grade guy at school at age of 13 for the equivalent of one average monthly wage back then in the 80s back there in the USSR :-)...
I can't agree more with your point - bringing product to market is so much more then an 'invention'. In practical terms you need to do invention (the "great idea" part), R&D, engineering, packaging the product, marketing, sales, tech support. Invention is only 1/7th of the total effort. And it should better be in tune with marketing.
One famous Russian/Soviet biologist (Timofeev-Risovskij) favorite saying was - "Unimplemented ideas are worth nothing".
Therefore, the patent system should (and that was the original intention) only protect small company product from being copied by others. Since big corporations should have other ways to make it's products compete well - better packaging, better marketing, better tech support, better pricing (economy of scale) afterwords. Patent system should not be used to replace R&D and scientific research.
I do believe that people in the US would be able to stop the slide away from freedom and democracy without going the the lows that Europe (inluding Russia) had to suffer in the 20th century.
Now, I'm not sure what to criticize for Russian Parliament or President in terms of freedom of computing. Microsoft copyright (or anybody else's for that matter) is not enforced in any way here. As I said, even databases with taxpayers information are sold in small shops all around the city. DVD sets with "complete Microsoft" etc. New movies show up packed up to 8 movies per DVD disk, playable on standard DVD players (not MPEG4). Linux shows up slowly in this mix of software.
t ter_Eng1.shtml
I have recently submitted a complain to Putin about the new regulation for customs limitation of 35 kg for personal travel. There is a complain department with his administration and if enough citizens complain or offer to do something it gets reviewed. He may or may not decide to act on this, but so far he was quite a populist, i.e. something that got lots of people pissed off usually gets changed. English version of the page is here (I've used Russian version of course)http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/articles/send_le
This is a kind of direct link to the top of the Govt. is good IMHO. Being able to submit through the Web is very nice also. I'm working on a letter in relation to OSS and Linux support and anti- Microsoft and Hollywood regulation, to relieve them of the copyright priviledge for monopolistic abuse and passing totalitarian laws around the world.
Now, I know what mass repressions are if not by my personal experience, then by my grandfather generation relatives. DMCA and new law in Germany that makes unauthorized software copying a criminal offense is bona fide ground for mass repressions in the West. This is the law, that being enforced would put 10-20% of the population in jail. There is no such law in the works in Russia, and if there would be one it would get repelled. Companies that sell unauthorized copies are facing a fine, it's regulated by civil law (like it should, like it was in the US not so long ago).
And even more fortunate (or unfortunate, since it promotes the use of non OSS products) is the fact that copyrighted materials are sold freely in Russia unlicensed, although there is constant pressure from Microsoft and their ilk to stop it.
:-)
I believe the copyright law would not get abused in Russia, like it is in the US and now in EU for one simple reason - Russia is not a producer of content, and EU does not have an option of not using Russian natural gas. And there are no powerful Russian lobbies in favor of DMCA-like laws. And current legislation making foreign interests groups very restricted in Russia gives us hope it would stay this way.
So, I sincerely wish to all my fellow Microsoft wannabees (non OSS based) Russian IT companies to get fought to dust and get lost
"it should not be required of a citizen to explain their daily actions on the basis that they look suspicious"
But of course if you're not blessed with US citizenship and happen to be just a permanent resident or, God forbid, work here on an H1 visa, then, of course, you HAVE to explain why you LOOK suspicious.
And my personal experience that just not being blessed with US citizenship and travelling to the country of your citizenship 5-6 times a year, for quite open computer related business, is enough to be put on a list of 5 million people residing in the US that are "possibly related to terrorists".
And if you think that I'm an arab, or from Iran, or have anything to do with such, or like them, or is affiliated in any way - not that I'm aware of. Fortunately I'm a free citizen of a free country (Russia), about the only place in the World where I can respectfully disagree with the US.
The path the US is following now is without heart and is NOT bringing you to the temple. And what's the point of a path like that?
I'm sitting in Moscow, Russia and my internet connection is at 10 Mbits, it's my own home and I think that 10-BaseT cable for Intenet access is the best. It costs me $30/month.
I'd rate this comment at 50 points! I laughed my pants off! :-) SHIT :-)
My experience with programming is like this: ... And all of a sudden a day comes when you can call for a demo... Wow! How come that's not "random reward" ? And, as a matter of fact this model is simplified - the probability is not fixed at .69 And, while coding, the structure of rewards is similar.
First, you make an estimate that to code this you would need about a week. Out of your lifetime of experience you know that it would be prudent to say 4 weeks to the customer. Then, in 4 weeks you figured about 4 problems. But, shit, you got one left. It should take about a week. In a week you solved that problem, but, shit, you got one left. It should take about a week. In a week you solved that problem, but, shit, you got one left.... Repeat previous 2 sentences with probability 0.69
I remember one of the best times I had in my life was back then in 1985 when I was playing "Collosal Cave Adventure" on 8086 and since I could not figure the game out I started disassmblying the game and patching the binary executable image to get to the next room... or get en extra object...
I still remember the unwelcome sunrise and amber glow of monochrome Hercules terminal... "Plugh"...
I have spent 13 years of my life in the US and moved back to Moscow, Russia recently. The reason was that from day one in the US I felt like I'm "back in the USSR" in some strange way - capitalizm, sure, but also lack of freedom,and there was much more freedom in Russia in 1992, and it is still lots left, although the constant anti-freedom pressure from the West and US on these topics is felt: :-) conscenting adults. There are so many reasons why people might want to have sex, I don't see why govt. should be involved at all. And the girls are very good IMHO. Just look up on the Web.
:) for $3 each. And most latest software for evil OS (MS-Windows).
:-)
:-) "Those that trade freedom for some security end up with neither"
a) copyright (although, my economical and political beliefs are Linux/GNU/FSF, and repressive law against Windows lusers benefits me economically). And prohibiting hollywood movies and music would only benefit (any) country.
b) war on (some) drugs - overall policy that results in black market prices grouth for said products, with strong govt. corruption and consumption grow, accoppanied by constant media hypocrasy.
c) human rights erosion under the pretext of "war on terror" - like x-raying my boots and stealing my nail-clippers at the airports, phone and internet surveillance. Although - right now in Moscow you can buy 1) anonymous GSM phone card 2) anonymous internet access card 3) anonumous electronic cash cards 4) cannabis seeds selling and buying is legal
d) prostitution - at least it's still not a criminal offense in Russia, for private, individual relation between two (or more
e) erosion of state/church separation - but at least in Russian schools children are not forced to pledge submission to Govt. and GOD on a daily basis
f) untill now complete databases for all private information from phone numbers, to passport, drivers license, property, taxes paid were available for no more then $30 complete set. Unfortunately lately FSB(KGB) got upset that such complete information discosure was available to anybody, not just them. But, Westen position on this is such - give that wealth of information only to Govt. agencies. Whereas, if there is no choice, better everybody has it, rather then only Govt.
Speaking of "Pirate Bay" - well, firstly, I prefer eMule. Secondly, I never bother to download movies since on every metro station there are kiosks that sell DVDs with up to 8-6 latest Holywood shit movies on a two sided disk (russian creativity!
p.s. my wife delivers a baby in 10 days and althouth I can't say it was not without a hassle to get all paperwork and state medical insurance papers - it's free. We probably feel obligated to tip doctor with $200-$300 for delivery, but that's our choice and in case we were broke it would still be the same hospital and doctor. And Govt. gives a $250 bonus for a newborn baby. Of course it costs a hell more to rise a child, but
Now, I do hate socializm
I'm a Linux video hardware manufacturer with GNU GPL drivers. I *DREAM* of the day when nobody else is producing non-DRM hardware. We would then come up with a great new product called "General Purpose DRM-Free Personal Computer" and we'll be very rich soon. That's assuming that no one else would be offering such a beast, but it's still legal to manufacture non-DRM equipment. Which is unlikely.
:-)
:-( ) - Linus's strategy works better then.
More probable scenario is that they would make it illegal to manufacture/sell and own non-DRM equipment - but that's even BETTER from my business standpoint, since then non-DRM hardware design,manufacturing, sales and distribution would be more profitable then illegal drugs are now. And non-DRM equipment is probably better for health then substances of abuse
Linus believes that Linux momentum before we enter DRM reality is more important for success of future computer/internet underground. RMS wants to spend open source momentum trying to slow down the transition to DRM. You be the judge. But if we don't get into DRM world (and I would not get very rich or go to jail
Bill Gates's argument is/was fundamentally wrong because he assumes that software should be protected by the conventional copyright law.
:-)
The original copyright law grants author of the book (or other artistic expression) a limited (50 years) monopoly to produce copies of the book.
Free market functioning is based on the assumption that prices for goods and services are determined by the interaction of supply and demand, nobody owns the market and people are coming into transaction on their own free will and are free to enter and exit the marketplace on both supply and demand side.
On the other hand for the given book, no matter how good the book is there are always thousands of other good books in print. If price on a book is set much higher then for other books of the same kind most customers would not buy that overpriced book. Therefore, a limited monopoly for the book author can be granted by the society.
On the other hand, one does not have a choice whether to use Microsoft Windows or not. Although some applications exist for other platforms there is huge number of mission-critical applications in different fields that are only available for MS Windows.
Therefore conventional copyright law should not be applicable to software. The question whether a particular software item has a monopoly for these kind of software applications should be considered and the protection granted should set differently.
Then, there would be true free market, a.k.a capitalism for software, for now it's more like a feudal system, where there is one dominant virtual-land owner, serfs and the rebellion a.k.a GNU/OpenSource/Linux crowd.
Same reasoning (i.e. lack of free/open marketplace for both supply and demand side) can be applied to video contend production - i.e. more then 80% of the movies produced by one cartel (Hollywood), no real choice - therefore there shall be no copyright protection for Hollywood movies as well. At least not blanket copyright protection.
And the history of mankind shows that as soon as the society gets away from FARE playing that results in revolutions very quickly. I'm an optimist personally
Let the Source be with you.
Speaking of "Communist Russia" - I'm a proud citizen of Free Country, namely Russian Federation. Hey, US comrades - have YOU changed the regime in your country from Police State to Weak Democratic State lately?
But you MUST carry an ID in Russia. Now, 200 years ago, 100 years ago and 50 years ago for sure. If you don't - you can be detained for up to several hours for police to find out who you are. There is no way though you can be ARRESTED for that, or that you would get a record for forgeting or loosing your ID.
But I can not imagine police searching my car for MJ. I can not imagine police getting interested if I had a fight with my mother, father, doughter, girlfriend. That is our private space - if someone is hurt and pissed off they can file a paper. And the paper can be withdrown before it gets to court. Gross situations are taken care of, but not domestic disputes. There is real crime to be taken care of.
Prostitution is only an administrative offence, like speeding. And it does not get on your records (same as speeding, BTW). Of course Europe sets a positive example for that, I just can't believe you can call a country "free", when state tells you with whom, how and on which conditions you are ALOWED to have sex, and when not. So - sex for money is illegal, but sex for ... getting permit to live in the US is legal. Go figure.
To illustrate - once in Moscow I picked up a prostitute from a roadside. As we started to drive police car showed up and I had to stop. They asked HER for ID (get it!). She had one that was OK. Then what did they say to her? "Hey, baby, you are driving with this man you don't know, don't come crying to us if you get in trouble". She said - OK, and we left for a night of something more pleasant. Important point is that I did not feel any concern when I was pulled - I have not done anything illegal. They did not bother to check my papers, since they were police, not MV-inspection.
On top of that - there are good laws, and there are bad laws. In Russia, you can always bribe your way out, this is another (better) line of defense against stupid laws. And if you remember OJ case - you can do it in the US as well, even for murder, provided ENOUGH money are pumped in. In Russia, being a free country, you need much much less for taking care of stupid laws.
The sad news is that historic experience shows that countries oscillate from freedom to tyrany - it's just too bad US are on the swing to Police State right now.
A good answer to DMCA would be to come up with a new reasonable license.
Let's call it "Fair Copy License"...
The outline would be something like that:
you are allowed to make backup copies and copies on different media for personal/family use
you are allowed to make and give away copies on an individual basis
copies from copies are not allowed
any monetary or bartering gain from distributing copies is not allowed, with the exception of getting copies of other material licensed same way in exchange
Non individual copies are not allowed - i.e. by placing material on the Internet for unattended downloads or posting on the Usenet.
This kind of license is a much better deal for content customers, and it's a better deal for artists as well, since "fair copying" acts as a very good promotion mechanism. Revenue lost on unpaid copies is more then compensated by reduced advertising expenses and increase in sales due to "grassroots" promotion.
Of course there is no free market for entertainment content.
I'm amazed at all these naive posts on /. saying they don't "know" what's CD printing cost. Just do a search on "printing CDs" and you would find that in a qty of 1000 you can have them printed for $0.90 a piece, with a box and a paper insert, DVDs - same for $2.00.
So, what is reasonable sale price for them - I would say with over 400% profit - $5 is very reasonable. So, all you RIAA agents vining about "Napster Kids" asking for $5 pricing - shut up and enjoy this illegal (in terms of antitrust) situation while it lasts. And if you sell DVDs at $5 - then you'll have to "starve" on a 150% profit...
The fact that CDs and DVDs are not selling at $5 proves that there is NO such thing as a free market for these goods and services. Learn to live with that all you libertarian buddies :-) And $2 profit per CD is more then enough to feed the artist, as well as run the studio and other supporting services.
If you believe in the freedom of speech
(and lot's of constitutions in the world do
confirm this principle) you shall oppose the
DVD. It's the propriatory media, where there
is an organization that decides whether to
give me the license to produce the content.
I think the constitutional amendment is due -
"Mass media data format shall not be propriatory
copyrighted or patented"
>governments who oppress civillians (chechnya?)
Chechen military is well trained, armed and funded from abroad.
One may agree or disagree with their goals (muslim world domination), but they are not defenseless civilians.
Yes, this war happens in the cities and civilians suffer in Chechnya, as they did suffer in Moscow when three 9 stories apartment buildings were exploded during the summer of 1999 (before the military compain agains Chechnya started). Not a government building, like in Omaha for example...
Of course tapping the Internet is very bad. Russian wisdom says though - "the severity of Russian laws is relieved only by the fact that they are not well enforced". Same can not be
said about the US...
On a road to a police state it's very important to ensure that media is controlled tight.
Look 10-15 years into the future if trends exemplified by DVD are allowed to develop.
You can't distribute video - the only format being DVD that you can't create unless you got a license from the powers.
You can't distribute audio, since the open MP3 standard was declared illegal.
You can't distribute even written matter, since publishers afraid of copyright violations enforced that the only format text can be distributed in is closed and has to by licensed.
And any of these licensed can be revoked for a lot of reasons.
The only was to speak freely - is in your kitchen - well, congratulations, it's not 1984, it's 2014...
How many times have we read here "a company is ONLY in existence to make money" myth?
Well, this statement makes about as much sense as saying "I live in order to eat", as opposed to "I eat in order to live".
Most ethical companies exist in order to provide a service or sell a product that they like. Because if you don't like what you're doing you're gonna produce crap. And no amount of money thrown at you can change that. Just look at Microsoft for an example.
Making money is just the condition for company to exist, a lot of choices exist as to how actually make money. Some of them ethical, some of them not.
Linux Media Labs offers MJPEG hardware for Linux and I want to comment on some widespread misconceptions about MJPEG vs. MPEG performance.
Full rate, broadcast quality signal (D1) at 720x480@30frames/sec with 4:2:2 color (2 bytes/pixel) has a data rate of 20 MByte/sec. Now, with 1:10 compression the image quality is very good, especially since there is 60 fields per second with noise caused by lossy compression averaged out. So, D1 quality requires 2 Mbyte/sec bandwidth. That is about 7 Gbyte/hour. DVD disks have 4.7 Mbyte of capacity and hold about 2 hours of video. Therefore with all hoops and patents MPEG-2 has 3 times better performance. I would argue though that D1 encoded with MJPEG at 1:10 compression is much better quality then DVD, and don't forget that it's a 4:2:2 color, not 4:2:0 one as in DVD.
Let up now go to VHS (MPEG1) qualiity and also reduce frame rate to 15 frames/sec. There would be no flicker since our video frame buffer still allows our CRT to be refreshed at 60 fields per second. 320x240@15frames/sec at 4:2:2 (2 bytes/pixel) gives us 2.2Gbyte/sec uncompressed and with 1:15 JPEG compression (certainly better then VHS) gives 150 Kbyte/sec. MPEG1 data rate is about 180Kbyte/sec - i.e. MPEG1 is no better then simular quality MJPEG.
Advantages of MJPEG:
Therefore maybe Linux should use MJPEG as a standard for handling video.
Speaking of codecs - nothing prevents Open Source community from creating a first class MJPEG codec. As a matter of fact we're working right now on a MJPEG viewing application, simular to xanim from the user prospective but optimized for MJPEG with the requirement to playback 720x480@30fps on resonable hardware and it's under GNU GPL of course. If anybody has some top performing (assembly language?) JPEG code (DCT/Huffman) or desire to work on such (under GNU GPL) I would like to talk very much.
Vassili Leonov vleo@linuxmedialabs.com
The main question after reading through their FAQ - their copy prevention solution is a special software that you need to read the document. Is there a Linux version? If it's another Winodoze only solution I'm not interested.
:-)
I think there should be a simular facility in the Linux world. So that books can be written and downloaded for a small resonalble fee (which does not even contradict GNU GPL) - like $2-3 for example. Imagine if Linus would publish a book on his vision of Linux development. If couple million people download that paying $3, then he would not have to starve for the rest of his life
No encryption bullshit of course (since it can be cracked to begin with). Don't base your business on unrealstic assumptions (that floppies don't copy).
If you'd say that Bill Gates needs to be expropriated (in a legal process) of a good portion of his wealth that was acqired with gross violations of the business law spirit and letter - I would agree.
But I can not deny anybody, or any corporation the right to release an application for Linux platform. As long as he does not control the platform, and with GNU GPL license on Linux that is not possible without further violations of the law, which is not a problem for Bill Gates, but we can assume a lot of fun legal action in that case.
If not for GNU foundation and GNU GPL license
Linux would not be where it is now.
GNU GPL is viral and that is GOOD.
Greedy Perl documentation writers can go and
screw themselfs, not that is matters too much
for Linux.
p.s. I'm very sorry I bought his book, I need to
check with the store if I can return it. I paid
$$$ for that stuff, so him pissing on GNU/RMS
pisses me off!
Toshiba Satellites do work with Linux. And they are good notebooks. After IrDA issue is resolved there is no reason to avoid them.
We need to set up a GNU GPL legal defence fund. We need to find about 10,000 companies/individuals to contribute $100. It is doable - look at the amateur radio (ARRL) for an example. Sorry, but inside the US that is the way to do things.