The PATRIOT act has made the judical system less transparent, this EU act will (hopefully) not. Both EU countries and USA have constitutions, both were made to protect free speech, both are being circumvented by current legislators. My original post tried to show that there isn't much difference, and that your American constitution is in no way the only one in the world.
This tangent doesn't really matter, but it should also be noted that if somebody was shut up by the PATRIOT act, you wouldn't hear about it since they can be taken "away" without trial.
PATRIOT act has had a pretty damn large chilling effect. We haven't "lost" free speech in Europe either (I'm not including Russia in Europe, since even though half of it is technically within the geographical area of Europe, it is not a member of the European Union.)
Europe, and all individual countries therein, also have constitutions. All of these include free speech protection, it's just that to politicians, it matters as little in EU as it does in USA.
Also note that there are much fewer universities per citizen in China than in the UK, so Chinese universities have a much larger pool of people to choose from - and can therefore require higher levels of knowledge and still get as many students.
For some very nice informative talks, and good insight into the capabilities of Mr Moglen, check out some of these videos. I especially like the google tech talk lecture.
Remember that having an extra 120 pounds of fat on you is very different from each organ weighing 2.5 times as much. Long-term low gravity is dangerous to the body because it makes your internal organs go in strange ways in relation to eachother. I'd wager that high gravity would have similar effects.
Software patents kind of get in the way. Adobe are big software patent proponents, and would without a doubt shoot down any project trying to take a bite out of their market.
While majority consensus is important in democracy (aswell as protection of minorities and respecting the choice made by the majority) it is not as important in capitalism. A company can aim towards a smaller market and make a profit. This doesn't matter, though.
The only thing I wanted with my original reply was this: Don't expect your boycott to work.
If enough people do this, then it will go away.
Yes, but it is improbable that enough people do it. People don't view themselves as citizens. Laziness is more widespread than greed, and as such capitalism's abilities aren't fully utilized.
But enough people will never do this. Normal people don't compare prices any more, most of the youth (target audience for youtube) don't even know companies are free to use whatever price they want.
No, I am talking adaption by organisations (wether for-profit or not.) No US/UK organisation can use our software if it infringes on patents, because they are too large a target (as opposed to individuals.)
If you sell something that infringes on patents, you will be held responsible for it wether it is software or not, so distributions aren't immune either - and quite a few distros are run from the US.
A lot of OSS is developed in the USA, and a lot of open source consumers are in the USA. These often don't want to use software with patent problems due to threat (wether FUD or not) of litigation. Neither should you assume that your country will always be free from software patents (US diplomacy has a long arm.)
To ignore a market as large as the US probably doesn't weigh as much as being able to ignore patents.
This has been discussed a lot, so for reference I will quote the wikipedia article:
Spyware is computer software that collects personal information about users without their informed consent.
Concerning law, it seems to me that legal action has only been taken if the EULA has not warned the user about the information gathering. I can't give you examples, but I don't remember a single time when legal action has otherwise been taken.
I do agree with you that a tiny clause in the EULA shouldn't be considered warning the user since users almost never read EULAs, but the law disagrees - the EULA is a legal contract and by accepting it you (implicitly?) seem to state that you have read and understood it. IANAL.
How this affects Ubuntu, though, I do not see. The user himself has to activate the feature, not just click an accept button. To me, this is enough - as long as the feature stays disabled by default.
You may laugh now, but it won't be so funny when you're out there on the battlefield, screaming illegally copied (and then translated) jokes at the enemy.
Wenn ist das Nunstück git und Slotermeyer? Ja!... Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput.
Does it do things without the users consent? If it doesn't (and it obviously doesn't since it is disabled) then it is not spyware. The Last.fm music tracking is similar to spyware in function, but users install it willingly and it is therefore not spyware.
Right, but do these other (copycat) companies' bad actions justify google (presumably) stealing IP from this company?
I argue that no, it doesn't.
Now, assume that this specific company has been copying IP - does this jusitfy google's (presumed, illegal) copying? No. The company should be punished for it's copying by a court, and so should google - assuming that the copying can be proven in both cases.
Vigilantes have no place in a stable economical climate.
Everybody who says something along the lines of "bah, chinese complaining about stealing" should note that all Chinese are not connected into one single conscious entity, but are different individuals.
The people who own this IP need not have stolen any other IP.
It is as dumb as saying that all Americans are christian, guntouting, fat fuckasses.
Slashdot Mirror
The PATRIOT act has made the judical system less transparent, this EU act will (hopefully) not. Both EU countries and USA have constitutions, both were made to protect free speech, both are being circumvented by current legislators. My original post tried to show that there isn't much difference, and that your American constitution is in no way the only one in the world.
This tangent doesn't really matter, but it should also be noted that if somebody was shut up by the PATRIOT act, you wouldn't hear about it since they can be taken "away" without trial.
PATRIOT act has had a pretty damn large chilling effect. We haven't "lost" free speech in Europe either (I'm not including Russia in Europe, since even though half of it is technically within the geographical area of Europe, it is not a member of the European Union.)
Europe, and all individual countries therein, also have constitutions. All of these include free speech protection, it's just that to politicians, it matters as little in EU as it does in USA.
All of this is clearly proof that we were created by design and that god loves us.
Also note that there are much fewer universities per citizen in China than in the UK, so Chinese universities have a much larger pool of people to choose from - and can therefore require higher levels of knowledge and still get as many students.
For some very nice informative talks, and good insight into the capabilities of Mr Moglen, check out some of these videos. I especially like the google tech talk lecture.
Remember that having an extra 120 pounds of fat on you is very different from each organ weighing 2.5 times as much. Long-term low gravity is dangerous to the body because it makes your internal organs go in strange ways in relation to eachother. I'd wager that high gravity would have similar effects.
Maybe you should have sent this to some CEO. I don't think they have time to drudge around slashdot, but an insightful email is always welcome.
I'd assume they get a lot of them, though, so try making a very concrete list of your points, along with some motivation for each of them.
Should also be noted that consumers have much less wallet to vote with.
Oh fye, now you gave me such a huge craving for coffee. ARGH.
Or perhaps they are providing another service likely to appeal to their current userbase. Gee, who'da thunk?
Software patents kind of get in the way. Adobe are big software patent proponents, and would without a doubt shoot down any project trying to take a bite out of their market.
It'll be bundled with Duke Nukem Forever and API documentation for interacting with their servers.
Damn internet radio commercials gonna be clogging up my tubes hella bad.
Have fun.
But enough people will never do this. Normal people don't compare prices any more, most of the youth (target audience for youtube) don't even know companies are free to use whatever price they want.
I say this as a friend of a marketing teacher.
No, I am talking adaption by organisations (wether for-profit or not.) No US/UK organisation can use our software if it infringes on patents, because they are too large a target (as opposed to individuals.) If you sell something that infringes on patents, you will be held responsible for it wether it is software or not, so distributions aren't immune either - and quite a few distros are run from the US.
A lot of OSS is developed in the USA, and a lot of open source consumers are in the USA. These often don't want to use software with patent problems due to threat (wether FUD or not) of litigation. Neither should you assume that your country will always be free from software patents (US diplomacy has a long arm.) To ignore a market as large as the US probably doesn't weigh as much as being able to ignore patents.
I do agree with you that a tiny clause in the EULA shouldn't be considered warning the user since users almost never read EULAs, but the law disagrees - the EULA is a legal contract and by accepting it you (implicitly?) seem to state that you have read and understood it. IANAL.
How this affects Ubuntu, though, I do not see. The user himself has to activate the feature, not just click an accept button. To me, this is enough - as long as the feature stays disabled by default.
You may laugh now, but it won't be so funny when you're out there on the battlefield, screaming illegally copied (and then translated) jokes at the enemy.
Does it do things without the users consent? If it doesn't (and it obviously doesn't since it is disabled) then it is not spyware. The Last.fm music tracking is similar to spyware in function, but users install it willingly and it is therefore not spyware.
Right, but do these other (copycat) companies' bad actions justify google (presumably) stealing IP from this company?
I argue that no, it doesn't.
Now, assume that this specific company has been copying IP - does this jusitfy google's (presumed, illegal) copying? No. The company should be punished for it's copying by a court, and so should google - assuming that the copying can be proven in both cases.
Vigilantes have no place in a stable economical climate.
Everybody who says something along the lines of "bah, chinese complaining about stealing" should note that all Chinese are not connected into one single conscious entity, but are different individuals.
The people who own this IP need not have stolen any other IP.
It is as dumb as saying that all Americans are christian, guntouting, fat fuckasses.