[cc-licenses] Parallel Distribution and Non-Copyleft Licenses

James Grimmelmann james at grimmelmann.net
Sat Dec 2 15:13:52 EST 2006


drew Roberts wrote:
> On Saturday 02 December 2006 11:03 am, James Grimmelmann wrote:
>> drew Roberts wrote:
>>> On Saturday 02 December 2006 10:32 am, James Grimmelmann wrote:
>>>> Greg London wrote:
>>>>> Without any DRM clause of any kind, ShareAlike has a loophole
>>>>> that allows DRM Dave to use the work without sharing the work
>>>>> on his platform. Only he can distribute works on his platform.
>>>>> Only he can create derivatives on his platform.
>>>> This is true.  But the same is true if DRM Dave makes snow globes that
>>>> play a CC-licensed song.  Nobody else can put derivatives (or anything
>>>> at all) on this sort of snow globe--simply because Dave is the one with
>>>> the manufacturing plant. Why is this not a platform monopoly of this
>>>> troubling sort?
>>> James, is this really an honest question on your part or are you just
>>> trying to pin someone down to bolster your case?
>> I want to put this question to Greg.  You and he are making similar
>> points, but you have different conceptual frameworks.  My apologies for
>> not making clearer that this is a question of him in particular, not of
>> all opponents of parallel distribution.
> 
> Still, is it really an honest question?

It was, and I think that Greg's responses since I asked it have 
addressed the issue.

> I see no reason that I must give people freedoms they would deny me at the 
> same time. You are welcome to try and enlighten me though.

Giving freedoms to those would deny us the same is an important value of 
tolerant liberal democracy.  We strive to give everyone the same 
essential freedoms -- and we strive to intervene only when those would 
restrict those freedoms actually try to do so.

Of course, giving everyone equal opportunity is also an important value, 
so my appeal to important values isn't likely to resolve anything either 
way in the present discussion.  :-)

James



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