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Migration out of USMigration out of USPosted Dec 25, 2003 4:38 UTC (Thu) by mepr (guest, #4819)In reply to: Migration out of US by ccyoung Parent article: Use of patented code in the kernel I would like to comment that while there have been a few cases of the decss type, i.e. dmca, and the idea (in reference to the dmca) that a trade secret should have trade secret protection when it is no longer a secret is probably well described as odious, I must still put a plug in for 'Freedom of Speech' in America, which still has few rivals in the world for the freedom to say what you want on the internet or anywhere else, and in this context I must object to the US being compared to China in this thing (although I am not objecting to your ability to make such a comparison). Canada and Europe have already passed numerous laws restricting political speech. The restrictions, from place to place, forbid things like criticizing homosexuality, espousing racism, protesting abortion and saying things which the government deems to blaspheme the Virgin Mary (that one, of course, is in Italy). Part of that list are thngs many readers might say, "and good riddance to it." Others, maybe not. Still, it is a privilege to live in a country where such subjects are still open for discussion. There are governments in Europe who have stated quite openly on multiple occasions that the reasonon ertain horrible happenings were so bothersom was not because they happened but because the world might here about it. In other words, it is less important that there be no problem than that people think there is no problem. The fact, for another example, that the mainstream media has been allowed to relentlessly criticize the US government's prosecution of the Iraq war is a great testimony. Modern Russia, would have, and has actually, responded by throwing the media owners in jail and assuming control. We have often criticized the government for not doing enough to crush the Microsoft monopoly. But America has also allowed the "lead developer" for Linux to live in America, and Linux this fall surpassed Microsoft in server shipments. What I am trying to suggest is that America is imperfect but we should give it credit for what it is good about it. If we claim now to have already lost what we still have, we may find the day comes when those who say they bring our freedoms back will deny us the freedoms we have today, and those of us who have cried wolf will not be listened to. Most, will, in fact, probably keep their mouths shut.
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Migration out of US Posted Dec 25, 2003 6:31 UTC (Thu) by error27 (subscriber, #8346) [Link] The restrictions, from place to place, forbid things like criticizing homosexuality, espousing racism, protesting abortion and saying things which the government deems to blaspheme the Virgin Mary (that one, of course, is in Italy).I've never wanted to do any of those things but I do like to write software... :/ It's something I worry about in a personal way pretty often. I've written security auditing tools (DMCA), and a p2p program (RIAA) and any decent size software is going to violate patents. (For legal reasons it's not wise for programmers to discuss software patents, so I won't discuss it any more.) It makes me sad, that people are not free to think about and program whatever they want. I only offer my programs to people who want them. I'm not hurting anyone.
Migration out of US Posted Dec 28, 2003 22:08 UTC (Sun) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954) [Link] I'm not hurting anyone.Of course you are. You're hurting anyone else who would sell alternatives to your program. In the usual words of monopolists such as labor unions, you're taking food out of the mouths of your own compatriates. So yes, you have to consider the issue as to whether someone else -- a person who possibly invented the technology you're distributing -- has a greater right to income from the invention than your right to engage in your hobby.
Migration out of US Posted Dec 30, 2003 0:14 UTC (Tue) by error27 (subscriber, #8346) [Link] I really meant that my software doesn't hurt anyone in a more direct way. For example, releasing viruses and worms should obviously be illegal.To me it's not so much a hobby vs income type thing but a free speech issue. Calling something a hobby just trivializes it. Is writing GCC a hobby for RMS? Even ignoring the free speech issues and assuming that I just wrote software as a hobby, the patent system is still very broken. I can't patent anything as a hobby because that would be too expensive and I don't make money as a hobbiest. The patent system only hurts me and doesn't offer me anything in return. In one case there was a company that patented extensions to Free Software which I have contributed to. They used it internally without releasing the source. But to me, the issues of Free Speech and thought are what matter most.
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