[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: [A2k] Re: [Wsis-pct] IP Justice Comment to IGF on Top PolicyIssues forAthens

[Seth Johnson]

Right.  I oppose someone using exclusive rights in a manner that
attacks anybody else's fundamental rights.

Let's start from brass tacks -- or at least, what appears to be
such for you:

What on god's green earth do you mean by "digital rights?"

I have never, ever heard of such a thing, and the concept frankly
freaks me out, if I understand it right.

Now, this is one of the things I knew were being packed into the
phrase "digital rights management" -- it could be parsed as
either "rights management" that is "digital" or as "management"
of "digital rights."

You represent the first empirical instance I have encountered of
someone who actually expressed a belief in such a thing.

Let me note:  The concept of "digital rights" exists NOWHERE
except in this idiotic phrase that you seem to think needs to be
coddled and respected.

So, go ahead: tell me what a "digital right" is, and try to make
it palatable, okay?


Seth


Taran Rampersad wrote:
> 
> Seth Johnson wrote:
> > I would oppose anything that speaks of "managing" "rights."
> >
> 
> By using a copyright license on something you create, you are
> effectively managing your rights as a creator. The extra step of
> imposing 'copyright protections' is also managing rights. How rights are
> managed is different. You could hire a horde of lawyers, or you could
> try to keep people from copying your stuff. You could stick a dongle in
> a port, you could use software keys... and yes, all of these can, will,
> and will continue to be bypassed. So they aren't so effective.
> 
> The problem I have with the GPL draft at this point is that it will give
> creators less options. And to be frank, 30 years ago software isn't the
> issue that it is now. What will fall under copyright under the next 30
> years? Does everyone really think that the human race has nothing beyond
> software, writing, music/podcasts and movies to create?
> 
> I think you oppose someone else managing your rights. That's different.
> As a user, I don't like people forcing me to use their creation in a
> certain way. I don't like DVD players that I buy from people who import
> from the Far East not being able to play the movies that I buy from the
> people who import from other parts of the world. To bypass that, there
> are plenty of video stores in Trinidad and Tobago with ripped DVDs. They
> aren't paying the creators. DRM backfired. Kaboom. That doesn't work.
> But with such a small market anyway, multinational corporations don't
> really care too much.
> 
> So I exercise choice. As Gandhi said, freedom means nothing if it
> doesn't mean the freedom to make mistakes. I doubt that some caveman
> studied science to create fire - the fire appeared, more than likely,
> and man eventually figured out how to start one. A software license that
> forces different licensing of content is not something I believe is
> sensible, in fact, it's counterproductive.
> 
> This isn't just about software anymore with the present GPL v3 Draft.
> This becomes an issue with content, business processes and so on. Let's
> talk about the digital rights related to trade secrets. That would be an
> interesting topic which might shed some light on things.
> 
> --
> Taran Rampersad
> Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
> cnd at knowprose.com
> 
> Looking for contracts/work!
> http://www.knowprose.com/node/9786
> 
> New!: http://www.OpenDepth.com
> http://www.knowprose.com
> http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran
> 
> Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/knowprose/
> 
> "Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo

-- 

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