[nylug-talk] some copyright issues

[Jay Sulzberger]

On Thu, 1 May 2003, joe wrote:

> I've been lurking here for a while and have seen a number of posts that
> advocate positions on copyright that deserve discussion and contrary
> response.
>
> At the same time, I don't want to start a thread that would be off topic
> or disruptive. Most postings here deal with technical issues regarding
> Linux and its implementation.Without digging back in the files, that may
> be something defined in the lists rules.
>
> So, with that said, before starting, I'd appreciate advice from the list
> moderator as to the appropriateness of my posting of comments on
> copyright that may be controversial. I will respect that advice.
>
> Thanks, Joe

The Englobulators cry "Copyright Infringement!" and "WE OWN EVERYTHING:
YOUR COMPUTERS AT HOME AND ALL THE NET TOO.".

We answer "No, the issue is not copyright infringement.  The issues are:

1. We have a right to own computers.

2. We already own one billion, and we are not going to give you even one,
no matter what you yell.

3. We built the net and it is ours and it is everybody's to use freely.

4. And no matter what you yell, we are not going to give you our Net."

Copyright law is a large and fascinating thing.  But it has almost nothing
to do with our rights of ownership of the computers in our homes and our
practical powers of control over our own computers.  And crying "copyright"
in a crowded Internet does not end our right of free speech and our
practical powers of communication.  And calling one hundred million
Americans "pirates" is not a true bill of indictment in US admiralty law.

And these issues are square heart issues of Free Software, and nylug-talk
is a good place to meet to talk about them.

http://www.nyfairuse.org

oo--JS.