[discuss] Reuters: Novell could be banned from selling Linux: group

[Russell McOrmond]

Ross Jordan wrote:
> Something doesn't have to affect you directly to tick you off:
> * You might be annoyed by the principal of the matter

   Are we all in agreement on what principal he is annoyed by?

   When a manufacturer sells a piece of hardware, there are two 
possibilities of who gets to decide what software can be installed on 
that device (And thus who should be in control of any cryptographic keys 
used to lock out "unauthorized" software).

    a) The manufacturer
    b) The owner

   I have been spending all my time in recent years protecting (b).  It 
is why I started Digital-copyright.ca, co-founded GOSLING, and agreed to 
become the CLUE policy coordinator.   This is the #1 technology policy 
issue for me, and overrides pretty much any other issue.

   Linus seems to think it is a principal to protect that it be (a), and 
further that CopyLeft licensed software should be able to be freely used 
by device manufacturers that want it to be (a).

   Do you agree with Linus or do you agree with me, and why?

   Can you think of any other interpretation for Linus' objections to GPLv3?

> * Maybe you're worried that it will directly affect you in the future

   Does Linus sell hardware/software bundles containing GPL licensed 
software where he is going to want to revoke the property right of the 
owner to choose what software is installed on that hardware?   If so, do 
we support him or oppose him in that goal?   Why should he be given a 
free ride on this critical political issue just because he wrote a few 
lines of interesting software?

   I am worried that Linus's protection of (a) above is going to 
directly affect me in the future, which is why I object to his political 
beliefs.

> Like, say, the fact that I don't own an ipod or music playing device
> doesn't mean that I'm not annoyed by the new tariff proposals.

   That is fair, but we should be able to discuss what "principal" you 
agree or disagree with, and we can then decide whether we agree or 
disagree with each other.

Note: It's not an iPod levy, but a <B>proposed</B> Tariff for all 
"Digital Audio Recorders"  or "Secure Digital, MultiMedia, and Memory 
Stick removable electronic memory cards over 256 MB"

http://cpcc.ca/english/pdf/2008-2009ProposedTariffBackgrounder20070208.pdf


   I've posted my thoughts about the tariff issue in the 
Digital-copyright.ca forum as I believe the issue is complex. 
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/discuss/6594    While there are better 
options I wish Canada could politically pick (carving out private 
activities from copyright entirely, possibly through a very expanded 
Fair Use regime), I believe we are stuck with realistic choice between 
levies and legal protection for DRM.  Of those two options I believe 
that levies are the lesser of the two major evils.


   You may find that we agree with the same principal on this issue, but 
disagree on the state of Canadian politics and what more realistic 
options are.

   But we should at least be able to discuss what principals we believe 
in, and see where we agree and where we disagree.

   I *oppose* any policy or technology that revokes the rights of owners 
of technology to make their own software choices.   I don't care how 
many famous personalities you parade in front of me (including authors 
of software I might be using), I will still spend my time fighting for 
what I believe to be fundamental human rights (technology property 
rights are linked to cultural, communication, and most other human rights).

   When presented with a contract/license that better protects that 
right I will support it, and when there are individuals or groups that 
oppose that right I will oppose them (IE: I am politically oppose Linus 
Torvalds objections to the GPLv3, just as I am opposed to the 
ratification of the 1996 WIPO treaties by any country.)

-- 
  Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
  Please help us tell the Canadian Parliament to protect our property
  rights as owners of Information Technology. Sign the petition!
  http://www.digital-copyright.ca/petition/ict/

  "The government, lobbied by legacy copyright holders and hardware
   manufacturers, can pry my camcorder, computer, home theatre, or
   portable media player from my cold dead hands!"