Re: [OS:N:] Legislation threatening Open Source/Free software?

[bscott gtlaw com au]

Hey Paul

I haven't read the interview, but my view is that open source has strong
technical credentials and is being (has been) established as a viable
business model.  In other words, it can't be beaten in the marketplace.  If
this is the case then the only viable path of opposition to open source is
a political one. So in my view legislation will become a battleground over
the next few years. That said, the beauty of open source is that its
opponents will need to infect all legislatures.  The US could ban open
source outright, but that won't stop it spreading throughout the rest of
the world

Brendan

sorry about the footer....



                                                                                                                                
                      "Paul Fitz"                                                                                               
                      <pfitz dodo com au>               To:       <open-source-now-list redhat com>                             
                      Sent by:                          cc:                                                                     
                      open-source-now-list-admin        Subject:  [OS:N:] Legislation threatening Open Source/Free software?    
                      @redhat.com                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                      01/04/03 08:55 AM                                                                                         
                      Please respond to                                                                                         
                      open-source-now-list                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                





Hi everybody,

I came across this article the other day - an interview with richard
stallman http://news.com.com/1200-1120-975444.html?tag=ltcol It's dated
December 2002.

Richard mentions the legislative steps being taken by some governments and
steps taken by proprietary sofware companies which may have a negative
impact on the development and future of Open Source.

He mentions the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act,
Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Palladium and Microsoft's Trusted
Computing initiative.

I was just wondering what other Open Source people thought of these
legislative moves/Microsoft moves - do they reallty threaten the future
existence of Open Source software?  What will Open Source programmers do if
excluded the right to use digital television. play DVDs and so on (as
mentioned in Richards article)?  Are there other legislative
steps/movements
by proptietary software companies aimed at pushing Open Source out?

Cheers,
Paul




_______________________________________________
Subscription and Archive:
https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/open-source-now-list/
-
For K12OS technical help join K12OSN:
<https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn>





=======================================================================
This electronic mail is solely for the use of the addressee and may contain
information
which is confidential or privileged.  If you receive this electronic mail
in error, please
delete it from your system immediately and notify the sender by electronic
mail or by using
any of the media noted below.

Any opinion expressed in this email is not represented as the opinion of
Gilbert + Tobin
unless that is stated or apparent from its terms.

Brendan Scott
Lawyer

GILBERT + TOBIN          Phone: +612 9263 4230
GPO Box 3810                Facsimile: +612 9263 4111
SYDNEY NSW 2001         Email: bscott gtlaw com au
AUSTRALIA                    Website: http://www.gtlaw.com.au

Liability limited by the Solicitors Scheme approved under the Professional
Standards
Act 1994 (NSW).

=======================================================================