Development of Creative Commons licenses

[Evan Prodromou <evan AT prodromou.name>]

On Wed, 2006-27-09 at 11:01 +0100, rob AT robmyers.org wrote:
> Quoting Terry Hancock <hancock AT anansispaceworks.com>:
> 
> > Still, it's a strong claim to argue that Debian is arguing "for DRM
> > lock-in": that is a gross oversimplification and a smear.
> 
> They are arguing for the "freedom" to impose DRM on other people. Which 
> has the
> same effect.

In a parallel distribution scenario, that effect is negated. If an
unencumbered version is made available, then there is no "imposition" of
anything. The other people still have the freedom to share, modify, and
experiment.

The main value of a parallel distribution proviso is to get Free
Software and Free Content onto platforms which they couldn't be played
on in a simplistic no-DRM-ever scenario. Making CC-licensed music
available for music players; sharing CC-licensed books for an ebook
reader; putting video, audio and images onto game consoles. Parallel
distribution lets us extend the purview of Free Content onto these
platforms _without_ restricting the rights of users.

Parallel distribution is not an acceptance of the DRM view of the world.
It's a _subversion_ of it. It's saying, "No matter what kind of
brain-dead architecture you build, we will turn it to our purpose, and
we will continue to share freely with each other." And it doesn't
require any fancy cracking skills or cryptoanalysis or getting into
trouble for breaking oppressive laws.

~Evan

-- 
Evan Prodromou -- http://evan.prodromou.name/

"By God! I will accept nothing which all cannot have their counterpart
of on the same terms." -- Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself"