Open source projects will end!!! Please Read

[cougarve]

Its finally here. The renamed SSSCA has been sent to Congress, titled the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act. Wired has a massive write-up on the story.

I'm just going to write this one straight. If you are a computer user in any sense, from Microsoft Word to an open-source coder, you care about this, and you care a lot.

The CBDTPA regulates everything. It regulates cell phones, fax machines, computers, TV's, stereos, in short--any kind of computer equipment that runs any kind of 'program', from your vehicle to your digital clock. If your piece of equipment uses a microprocessor, its targeted.

Furthermore, this piece of legislation directly targets open-source users. From Wired:

According to the CBDTPA, any software with the ability to reproduce "copyrighted works" may not be sold in the United States after the Federal Communications Commission's regulations take effect. Even programmers who distribute their code for free would be prohibited from releasing newer versions -- unless the application included federally approved technology.

The loophole? You can still create your own code, but only on a computer unconnected to a network. Again, from Wired:

could become unlawful for U.S. programmers to distribute any newly developed non-compliant code after the CBDTPA takes effect. Because the CBDTPA also regulates importing software, it could be illegal to download non-compliant code from overseas.

Those of you who think Open Source is free from this contagion...think again:

Free software developers could risk criminal charges -- even if no cash transactions are involved.

"The law has taken people who give it away for free to be sellers for some purposes," Wagner says. "If you give it away on a site that has ads, or if you're doing it for reputational value, you're probably still falling in the commercial category."

And last, but not least....a few words from the supporters of this bill:

"On Thursday, the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America hailed the CBDTPA as the only way to prevent the continuing Napsterization of their businesses. MPAA's Jack Valenti said the measure will "serve the long-term interests of consumers," while RIAA's Hilary Rosen predicted that without it, "online piracy will continue to proliferate and spin further out of control."

Some of you will scoff and dismiss this bill as irrelevant, falsely assuming it won't pass. (keep it mind--its already passed committee hearings). But some of you actually care about such legislative events and want to do something about it.

Senator Fritz Hollings is the senator pushing this bill. If you care strongly about it, I recommend you call his ofice and lodge a complaint. His office can be reached at (202)224-6121.

Although he his a member of the House of Representatives, not the Senate, Representative Rich Boucher has taken a pro-consumer, anti-DMCA and anti-CBDTPA attitude. His office, should you choose to register a comment, is (202)225-3861.

Should you call? Depends on how much you care. This is serious, people. It isn't Mickey Mouse, and its not just a crackpot senator--its a senator backed by some of the most influential and powerful lobbyists in America.

Do you like your computer? Do you like Linux? Moreover, do you like the fact that Linux exists?

Its quite possible it won't anymore, if the passers of this bill get their way. Now you make a call--stand up and fight this, or lie down like cynics or sheep. Or, make plans to move out of the country. Its that simple. You can also voice your view at the following government site (Senate Judiciary)

http://judiciary.senate.gov/special/input_form.cfm

[resnullius]

Fortunatly, Linux mandrake would not stop existing(it's made in France) I think redhat',s made in the states though... I'd say hey to your senators but i don't know that a canuk's opinion would count much =p

[d4n13l]

Mandrake is based on Red Hat.
Doesnt matter anyways, Linux is released under the GPL and is available worldwide. It would be a shame though if this draconian legislation actually happens. Although I expect that if it does go through, it will be more liberal than it is at the moment.

[Greg12]

THis sounds kind of unconsitutional and u could probally win before the Supreme Court that the law is it'self illegal.


And they won't stop sharing

THey gonna ban FTP next, why not HTTP, hell just ban the whole internet, make CD-RW's illegal, reverse Sony Industries vs. RCA (i think the case) and ban tapes, VCR's


Ban Camcorders, microphones, computers, tv's. Ppl might transmite

These ppl need to get some reality.

If they spent some time trying to legitimize the file sharing, they stand to make much more than by banning

[MOVIEGEEK]

I urge every American to e-mail,write,etc their Senators and Representatives in Congress to oppose this bill.
www.house.gov
www.senate.gov

[ember]

Another example of the US thinking it owns the freebies. The legislation will not affect GPL. It may prevent some US programmers from joining in the fun, but if a little Brit like me writes a Linux distro. I can freely distribute it under the licence. Mr Burger guzzling Judge Charlton Cactus from Arizona can't do anything about it.

[madunicus]

Hey, ember. How long do you think it's gonna take to see the same thing hapening in UK. Or France, or Germany, or anywhere. NOT long people! I'm not from USA but those of you who are STOP them. However, I agree. It won't stop sharing. But it will it slow it a bit. The same is with Open source. They are hunting it down.

[ember]

That, my dear fellow, is the most preposterous idea I have ever heard. Copying of commercial software is illegal EVERYWHERE yet have they stamped down on it? Can it be done?

[alucard2050]

how many times have i heard scary stories about the corrupt government i live under about some dumbass laws that are trying to be passed to give the government more power over the people.....i've seen some passed and i've seen some go down the drain. i've seen some get passed that have absolutly NO affect on anything.....i remember when seatbelts were a BIG issue....i remember people fliping out cause the government was gonna make them wear a seatbelt against the individuals will to protect them.....now its like there is no law for it unless you get pulled for something else and get ticketed for something else....i'll tell ya, if it gets to the point where the government is in control like that then my ass is gonna be sittin on a friggin island with Gilligan, Elvis, and Emilia Airhart.............