Re: [nmglug] Farmers vs. software patents,
This was on Hackaday <http://hackaday.com/2015/05/12/ask-hackaday-fixing-your-tractor-could-land-you-behind-bars/> (I found it via the Puri.sm subreddit <https://www.reddit.com/r/Purism/comments/35wtif/fixing_your_tractor_could_land_you_behind_bars/>) a few months back. It was almost comical that Deere's lawyers used 'our clients might do something illegal with their hacked tractors, like bypass the DRM we implemented to *listen to pirated music* and we do not want to be held accountable!' as an argument. I do think that a lot of this can be attributed to ignorance rather than malice on Deere's part, though (Hanlon's razor). -Arlo James Barnes
Arlo, Thanks, I am just glad that non-hackers are now confronting this issue and that popular press is covering it - still biased to the lawyers, of course, but the absurdity of this will become apparent the more it is exposed to a wider audience. At least I hope that this will change for the better. Farmers pirating music, look for the real pirates! Thank you, Ted P.
be held accountable!' as an argument. I do think that a lot of this can be attributed to ignorance rather than malice on Deere's part, though (Hanlon's razor).
Actually, this argument is very common and _very_ deliberate. Without this type of system, these companies cannot conduct totalitarian control over their users and competition. Without it they could not lock us in or out of their technology black boxes. Without, it would be devastating to their profiteering agenda's. Take a look at what non-free software companies and their CEO's/founders/lawyers say and do. These are not stupid people. Obviously, Free Software is a direct threat to their agenda. They need to convince everyone that the law should protect their interests. The King and Court relies on an oligarchy or monarchy to maintain power and squash other power systems.
I guess it depends on whether you consider power-grabbing a valuable strategy compared to power-sharing. I think the second leads to better social systems (not better overall, but for each party on average), so I think someone who power-grabs is making a mistake, even where they 'succeed'. -Arlo James Barnes On Fri, Aug 21, 2015 at 10:43 AM, Jason Schaefer <js@jasonschaefer.com> wrote:
Actually, this argument is very common and _very_ deliberate. Without this type of system, these companies cannot conduct totalitarian control over their users and competition. Without it they could not lock us in or out of their technology black boxes. Without, it would be devastating to their profiteering agendas.
Take a look at what non-free software companies and their
CEO's/founders/lawyers say and do. These are not stupid people. Obviously, Free Software is a direct threat to their agenda. They need to convince everyone that the law should protect their interests. The King and Court relies on an oligarchy or monarchy to maintain power and squash other power systems.
participants (3)
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Arlo Barnes -
Jason Schaefer -
Ted Pomeroy