(no subject)

[robinturner]

Sometimes I get really behind on events. I just read this article on the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act, which would, if enacted, make Free software effectively illegal (it requires that all digital products include anti-copying measures, and the whole points of free software is that you can distribute it freely). By some interpretations, it could also make it illegal for Americans to even download Free Software. Actually, it occurred to me that since web pages are also digital products, logically speaking it should outlaw the WWW.

OTOH, if the bill passes, at least it would shift the global balance of info-power. Americans get stuck with buggy Windows, and the rest of us walk hand in hand into the IT future. Unless, of course, the next act classifies distributing Linux as an act of terrorism and bombs Finland.

Comments

[kristian.livejournal.com]

Foolz! This is what you get when politicians have no clue about a particular technology - yet think they do (or want to make a name for themselves). Or when corporate interests are pandered to.

It may have as much impact as the anti-pornography laws we have here - none. It is illegal for isps or users to download porn and it is actually required of ISPS to make sure we naughty people aren't getting it! Of course the person who introduced this bill has no idea that that task is practically impossible (and the only reason it got passed is because the bill was introduced by an independant MP and the government let his bill go forward if he would give them his vote elsewhere!)

Anyway, no impact - how will it prevent people in the rest of the world from doing all the copying and the Americans just downloading our un-protected copies?

I wonder how much the entertainment industries sponsor the political parties involved.