[NTLUG:Discuss] MI2 boycott

[Ian Alexander]

Good point about the Napster/Gnutella thing.  However, surely *something*
should be done to raise the public's awareness.  I don't want to be one of
those crackpots on the street corner; the last thing we need is to have an
angry shouting mob representing the 'anti-mpaa/pro-freedom' movement. What
would you suggest as an alternative to using DeCSS as the example?

Anyone else have comments?  The release date is approaching, so we've got
to decide on what to do (if anything) soon.

I was just thinking of having signs and handing out buttons and leaflets.
No load obnoxious loudspeakers or anything like that.

Another thought... perhaps we could leverage the Microsoft monopoly
sentiment?  Stating that we shouldn't be forced to use MS software to
watch movies, etc etc?

----                                                                    ----
Ian J. Alexander                   email: ija at eaze.net  Office: 817-557-3038
Senior Software Engineer           http://ija.eaze.net  Fax:    817-557-3468
EazeNet - Putting the 'S' in 'ISP'
                       --== There is no spoon. ==--
----                                                                    ----


On Tue, 2 May 2000, Brian Koontz wrote:

> Ian Alexander wrote:
> 
> > Let me know what you think... this is an important issue, and central to
> > the public's right for software freedom.
> 
> Given the recent RIAA court win over mp3.com, this doesn't really sound
> like a real good time to try and support "software freedom" using DeCSS
> as the foundation.  Let's face it:  With all the publicity Napster and
> Gnutella have received the last few weeks, it's hard to believe the
> general public (read: non-programmers) will really be able to draw fine
> lines of distinction between software freedom and perceived piracy
> issues.
> Personally, if I was going to promote "software freedom," I wouldn't be
> using DeCSS (or any other controversial) software as my poster child.  
> 
>   --Brian
> 
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