Attempt to ban all free software

[NICEBUD]

Please somebody stop this utter madness.evil:


http://www.doom9.org


click on the link :- Attempt to ban all free software.





JUST THINK NO MORE FREE VIDEO EDITING TOOLS.

[Baldrick]

http://www.fsffrance.org/news/article2005-11-25.en.html

[ROF]

Isn't France just some small country everybody pretty much ignores on the continent of Europe? They are lobbying to ban free software because poverty and unemployment are at an all time high. What better way to increase rural frustration then to take free assets away from your people. I've always known there was something wrong with the French Government. In any case, this proposal if enacted will only effect the French, similiar to how the ruling against Kazaa only effects Australians.

[GullyFoyle]

Isn't France just some small country everybody pretty much ignores on the continent of Europe? They are lobbying to ban free software because poverty and unemployment are at an all time high. What better way to increase rural frustration then to take free assets away from your people. I've always known there was something wrong with the French Government. In any case, this proposal if enacted will only effect the French, similiar to how the ruling against Kazaa only effects Australians.

That is just idiocy on so many levels it is ridiculous. If France is so bad why do diverse types like Richard Perle and Johnny Depp choose to live there?
The fact is it is part of their repressive copyright law they are enacting. You know the crap you support.
I imagine if France really wanted to piss it's citizens off the would stop health care or social services.
Thank you for proving you are not only a RIAA shill but also a Republican. So go help yourself to a big bowl of Freedom fries while in your Freedom maids outfit.

[ROF]

WOW! All I was saying is the effect of this would not involve the majority here and that it's just another inept policy coming from the French Government.

I don't think there is any need to attack me personally for expressing those opinions, but as usual you have nothing to add to the topic but to spew personal criticisms of a member here.

[lordsmurf]

Just more backwards French laws. It's some deep need to shun everything that is not French. They already have a lot of stupid media laws as it is, and then they have to subsidize their own movie industry because even their own countrymen don't want to watch a lot of their native crap.

Insignificant.

[mikesbytes]

the ruling against Kazaa only effects Australians.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/12768

Like most countries, Australian Law is only active within Australia.

KaZaA has decided to block Australians, rather than build a search filter just for Australia.

[ROF]

Just more backwards French laws. It's some deep need to shun everything that is not French. They already have a lot of stupid media laws as it is, and then they have to subsidize their own movie industry because even their own countrymen don't want to watch a lot of their native crap.

Insignificant.

Maybe Johnny Depp watches their movies. He's one of the most diverse individuals around you know.

[Safesurfer]

Sounds like a little history repeating itself! Let them eat cake! Vive la Revolution.

[DereX888]

Isn't France just some small country everybody pretty much ignores on the continent of Europe? They are lobbying to ban free software because poverty and unemployment are at an all time high. What better way to increase rural frustration then to take free assets away from your people. I've always known there was something wrong with the French Government. In any case, this proposal if enacted will only effect the French, similiar to how the ruling against Kazaa only effects Australians.

That is just idiocy on so many levels it is ridiculous. If France is so bad why do diverse types like Richard Perle and Johnny Depp choose to live there?
The fact is it is part of their repressive copyright law they are enacting. You know the crap you support.
I imagine if France really wanted to piss it's citizens off the would stop health care or social services.
Thank you for proving you are not only a RIAA shill but also a Republican. So go help yourself to a big bowl of Freedom fries while in your Freedom maids outfit.

Well said.
You just beat me to it, otherwise it'd be meaner

[rkr1958]

So go help yourself to a big bowl of Freedom fries while in your Freedom maids outfit.

No that's just HOT!

[adam]

How can they declare this emergency legislation? I would assume that they've had free software available in France for about as long as they've had any software at all, but now its so urgent they have to skip the normal legislative process? Sounds like an attempt to railroad politicians to me.

But I wonder, can't "free" software manufacturers just start selling their software for 1 franc?

[GullyFoyle]

Just more backwards French laws. It's some deep need to shun everything that is not French. They already have a lot of stupid media laws as it is, and then they have to subsidize their own movie industry because even their own countrymen don't want to watch a lot of their native crap.

Insignificant.

I'm not up on every French film made. But I have seen many that are quite good. Better than most of Hollywoods recent fare.
Many French actors and actresses are more talented than the overpaid hacks hollywood continues to thrust at us.
I suppose if Americans didn't have that whole bias against subtitles ( dude why do I have to read this movie?) maybe French and foriegn films overall would be better appreciated.
Then again most americans frown on widescreen format as well. And heaven forbid DTS would be offered as an alternative audio format.
So while I tend to respect your judgement in this case you are wrong about French films.

[GullyFoyle]

How can they declare this emergency legislation? I would assume that they've had free software available in France for about as long as they've had any software at all, but now its so urgent they have to skip the normal legislative process? Sounds like an attempt to railroad politicians to me.

But I wonder, can't "free" software manufacturers just start selling their software for 1 franc?

Isn't freeware usually crippled in some form?
I've seen very few pieces of freeware that are worth using.
Most have some type of nag screen or other cyberbegging ( free doesn't necessarily mean donate) popup built in.
Technically the term "freeware" is an illusion.
The same as "shareware" is.

[GullyFoyle]

I don't think there is any need to attack me personally for expressing those opinions, but as usual you have nothing to add to the topic but to spew personal criticisms of a member here.

I'm sorry my stance on enduser consumer rights means nothing to you. I do see many people here od agree with it though.
Which I think puts you in the minority.
I'm sorry you confused satire with a personal attack.
From now on I will explain every joke I make to you when I do. I also urge anyone else who posts something funny to take the time to offer a detailed description as to why it is funny. Then you may be able to appreciate humor.
Then again some people just never get it.

[adam]

I have all sorts of high end commercial software for audio and video editing, etc... and I still use true freeware all the time. DVD2AVI, Avisynth, BeSweet (Azid, toolame, lame), VirtualDub, IMGTool, Pulldown.exe, IFOUpdate, DVDShrink, Irfanview, etc... All of these programs are fantastic and not crippled in any way. They are better than many of their commercial competition. I used to work in a local studio and I switched them over to freeware for alot of their stuff. It saved them money and gave them better results.

[gadgetguy]

Technically the term "freeware" is an illusion.

AviSynth, Virtualdub, Audacity...

I'd go on but adam already beat me to it.

[thecoalman]

I've seen very few pieces of freeware that are worth using.

Try perusing here: http://sourceforge.net/

You're using free software right now. Phpbb is free.... and it is software. So is php the server language that processes all the pages you see, Apache which runs the server and mysql the database. All free.... That brings up an interesting question, do they consider the above free software? Many servers worldwide use a apache/mysql/php combo...

[Sartori]

France - described in a sweeping statement by one of my own MPs (UK) as a "nation of collaborators" , if the French Parliment go along with this it merely proves his point .

Although I would concede that the market for paid for games for the ZX Spectrum was really ended when the mags gave away free (albeit old) games on the cover , when the Amiga came along the mags had an alliance not to do it again , then messed it up by giving away utility software , not helped by Aminet of course - paid for software was dead . But its really in my opinion a case of natural selection come an evolutionary step . SACEM are just trying to mess with evolution by holding back freewares innovations and providing payware with an incentive to make actual giant leaps forwards in features and usability .

Anyway .... France - remember who won Agincourt :P

[SCDVD]

For Sale - One World War 2 French Army rifle - Excellent condition, only dropped once.

[Laddydaddy]

SCDVD wrote;

For Sale - One World War 2 French Army rifle - Excellent condition, only dropped once.

You left out "never fired".

[Lester Burnham]

Isn't freeware usually crippled in some form?

Nope.

Not in my experience.

I've seen very few pieces of freeware that are worth using.

Then how are you posting, now?

And of course, the entire remit of usefullness, isn't constrained by what you've "seen" - as that is already most naive.

Most have some type of nag screen or other cyberbegging ( free doesn't necessarily mean donate) popup built in.

None of the freeware packages that I use, most days, have <shrug> YMMV.

Technically the term "freeware" is an illusion.

Absolute, complete, and UTTER rubbish.

There goes the credibility of your entire contributions to this topic... thattaway --->

The same as "shareware" is.

Can't personally comment, as I never bother with shareware.

See how that works?

[mbellot]

Just more backwards French laws. It's some deep need to shun everything that is not French. They already have a lot of stupid media laws as it is, and then they have to subsidize their own movie industry because even their own countrymen don't want to watch a lot of their native crap.

Insignificant.

Hey now! French pr0n is some of the best movie making you'll ever lay eyes on.

How dare you call that insignificant.



OTOH outlawing free software is about as assinine as it gets. Will this mean that service packs for Windows will now be illegal because they are "free"?

And I agree with the others, there is plenty of truly "free" software that is not only worth using, but down right good stuff.

[dvdguy4]

I would love to see how they enforce it.

[ROF]

The same way most countries who have bans on certain places. They block all incoming traffic from those locations. Although with the amount of freeware available and the large amount of mirror sites I'd say it's next to impossible. The French Government is known for it's strength and integrity so I know they'll come up with something and not just lie down and let those who want freeware to disobey.

[dvdguy4]

People will find a way to get their free software. They always do.

[smearbrick1]

Just more backwards French laws. It's some deep need to shun everything that is not French. They already have a lot of stupid media laws as it is, and then they have to subsidize their own movie industry because even their own countrymen don't want to watch a lot of their native crap.

Insignificant.

Aside from this obviously ridiculous legislation, I spoke with a French guy on a plane from LA to Philadelphia last year. We talked about things like "why the French hate everything non-french". Not really, but he did mention that some French people are so afraid of another culture invading their own that they oppose anything that's not French. He said alot of people were totally pissed about the whole E.U. thing.

Strange ideas if you asked me. Then again, Americans aren't the most tolerant bunch on the planet either.

[ROF]

You speak the truth dvdguy4. It amazes me sometimes the lengths that people will go through to stop people from getting something for free. What's even more amazing is the resilence of those who are being denied the right to what is free.

[GullyFoyle]

My mistake on freeware. In the past the only freeware I've used came with a nag screen. Others have the cyberbegging in the

help section a built in donation link or install adware ( some ask if you want the adware others do not).
I use software from "other" sources. And have for years. I use "hacked" clients when I can find them.
But I'm big enough to admit I'm wrong and my is inaccuracy based upon my limited individual experience.
Which is still far more responsibility than some people here accept for their mistakes.
These definitions do question whether I am wrong or not and from some of the comments suggest that the freeware agreements have been broken via usage.
I confused FREE SOFTWARE with FREEWARE.

Freeware is computer software which is made available free of charge, although typically freeware is proprietary. Unlike

"free software" (as defined by Richard Stallman), it is usually distributed without source code and often carries a

restrictive license. For example, a license might allow the software to be freely copied, but not sold, or might forbid

commercial, government or military use.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeware

Software that requires no fees for its use. This software is usually freely available, often times off of the World Wide

Web. Although this software does not require payment, it still has licensing restrictions that must be followed during its

use.
www.intbuild.com/WGGlossary.html


Freeware is programming that is offered at no cost. However, it is copyrighted so that you cant incorporate its programming

into anything you may be developing. The least restrictive "no-cost" programs are open to copy programs in the public

domain. These include a number of small UNIX programs. When reusing public domain software in your own programs, its good

to know the history of the program so that you can be sure it really is in the public domain.
www.planetech.co.uk/glossary.htm

[lordsmurf]

So while I tend to respect your judgement in this case you are wrong about French films.

No, I'm stating a fact. The only reason the French film industry is not extinct is because the government subsidizes it under one of many strict cultural laws/programs. Other stuff is simply more popular, so they try to punish you with extra taxes on non-French movies. I'm sure there are a number of nice artsy films in France, but they are about on par with Indies.

As far as not wanting to read movies, reading a visual form of entertainment is not desired by the overwhelming majority (probably at least 90% or more). Most people will pick up a book if they want to read.

BTW, a lot of the "Hollywood" movies these days are made in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several other choice locations. Much of the editing is done in places like Canada, Florida, New York, etc. California just does not have the room for everything that gets made these days. A great number of actors/actresses don't live there anymore either.