[Linux-aus] Re: DMCA on slashdot

[Janet Hawtin]

Robert Golding wrote:
> On 7/7/06, Janet Hawtin <lucychili at internode.on.net> wrote:

>> For those of you who don't delve in the political section of slashdot
>> the DMCA issue has been raised there. The post is short but some of the
>> discussion is interesting.
>> http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/06/054240

sorry for the double post.

> 1) Lots of people say "How awful" then won't sign the petition, it's
> all too "technical" for them and "only affects geeks" :-(

Hit them with the layperson stuff here.
http://www.lucychili.blogspot.com
Things like blackboxed broken digital voting systems.
Broken computerised car ignitions it is illegal to workaround yourself.
Impossible to have fair dealing/use because a tpm is not a good 
negotiator and the default starting point is that youre locked out.
Nothing you have bought new can be sold second hand.
Hardware may argue the point with you about whether you may install that 
new videocard because it is not from a BrandX approved manufacturer.
Its argument of course would have to take the form of just not working 
with it.

> 2) "It won't affect me, I'll still be able to pirate it if I have to"
> How many times have you that or similar?  Generally MS fan boys.

MS phones home.
MS have already been working on a system which shuts down old versions 
(older than WGA) or non compliant MS boxes. They've just got it on a 
back burner because it raised a few eyebrows.
It's true that the system largely causes difficulty to people who are 
operating legally, either as users or developers, but it will cause 
everyone issues in the end.

> 3) Not to mention the huge amount of average types who have no idea
> anyway and JUST DON"T CARE!

This is true and Australians seem to respond to lobbying for Freedom on 
their own turf as uncool. The problem with this is that the US business 
lobby group isnt shy. They have cash, lawyers and want right of way.
If we can't be arsed or think that having an opinion that needs to 
change the direction of government is daggy then we are really disabling 
democracy. Our only rights in this situation are to lobby in opposition 
to the DMCA lobby. The petition is a good start.

> Looks as though the only way to legally listen to, and watch, media
> will be on MS or TV/Radio :-)

Do you know you can search the ABC website and there is no reference to 
DMCA at all? http://www.abc.net.au/contact/

> Funny really, every "pirate" I know of is a Windows user, yet Linux is
> perceived as the OS of choice for "pirates" by the sheep, er, general
> public, if they have even heard of it.

Fear what you don't understand I guess.
Get busy with some ubuntu CDs =).

Janet