[Linux-aus] FTA update

[pia at linux.org.au]

I blogged about this, but basically a decision has been made: 

http://pipka.org/blog/ 

Gar! 

I want to be very clear about something, and I'll be blogging this tonight. 
We now more than ever in the open source world need to be developing cool 
stuff, supporting developers, promoting our efforts, educating about FOSS 
and generally excercising the freedoms we have always enjoyed. The new 
legislation does technically lock us into some sticky issues, but the second 
a real threat is created, there will be public gnashing of teeth, and many 
bodies will be behind anyone targeted. By open source projects kicking on 
more than ever and getting heaps of publicity, it won't be an easy thing to 
target quietly. The law is so often dictated by public trends (as should be 
the case, it shouldn't be a stagnant thing), and as an example we didn't see 
massive arrests over people recording to tape or vcr in the past. There is 
no reason why DVD shouldn't be 'the new VCR' and why we shouldn't be able to 
expect the same freedoms of access and control. 

Anyway, we can come up with some plans to deal with this stuff, but above 
all we all need to maintain our way of life, and rock on even harder! 

Cheers, and ROCK ON AUSTRALIA!
Pia 

Pia Smith
President of Linux Australia
http://www.linux.org.au