Ubuntu/FLOSS at CopyCamp.ca

[Russell McOrmond]

Michael Lacey wrote:
> I think that's a completely different subject, as we are just trying to 
> spread the word about Ubuntu and OSS. Although there could be a relation 
> between using OSS music/video formats that contain no DRM as opposed to 
> the infested MP3/WMV/MOV/AAC etc files.

   Were you replying to my message?

   CopyCamp is about bringing creators together, which includes software 
creators.  Clearly this is quite tied with FLOSS, with Ubuntu being one 
of the best "check it out" distros for people who aren't software people 
to realize that this is real stuff and not just theory.

   My discussion topics relate to my specific background, and are not 
representative of the overall conversations that will be happening.


   Audio/Video file formats would be off-topic as this isn't a technical 
conference, while discussing how to fund creativity without charging a 
marginal cost for the creativity itself (IE: all of FLOSS) would be very 
much on-topic.

   This is an audience of people who will want to learn more about 
FLOSS, as it is one of the major themes of the conference in one form or 
another.


Note: You said "no DRM as opposed to the infested MP3/WMV/MOV/AAC etc 
files", but this doesn't make sense to me.  While some of these file 
formats have cryptographic extensions to allow them to be digitally 
locked in a standard way, none of them are themselves "DRM".  What makes 
something into DRM is the tie between the locked files and access 
devices which have the decryption keys, where these access devices obey 
the instructions of the manufacturers and treat the owners as an 
attacker of what they own.

   Having files be able to be encrypted is not a bad thing.  Most of us 
thing GPG/PGP,SSL, OpenS/WAN and other software is critical to computer 
security.  It is having the manufacturer rather than the owner retaining 
the (digital) keys that is the problem.

   If it were only legal for the owner of something to authorize a 
(digital or otherwise) lock to be added to what they own, then the "DRM" 
problem would cease to exist.  This is why it is critically important 
that as many people as possible sign our petitions and write letters to 
their Canadian MPs.  MPs need to realize the property rights issues at 
the heart of current debates, and don't allow for state-sponsored theft.

   This level of the conversation will be something I'll be hosting a 
discussion about at CopyCamp given there is a lot of confusion (both 
within the technical community and outside).

-- 
  Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
  Please help us tell the Canadian Parliament to protect our property
  rights as owners of Information Technology. Sign the petition!
  http://www.digital-copyright.ca/petition/ict/

  "The government, lobbied by legacy copyright holders and hardware
   manufacturers, can pry my camcorder, computer, home theatre, or
   portable media player from my cold dead hands!"