Friday April 21, 2006 In Brazil
Kinda quiet from me because I'm very occupied down here in the south of Brazil at a favourite event, the huge Free/Open Source software conference FISL. Sun has set up an open rest area near the communities area where we are providing free coffee and a place to sit and relax as well as demonstrating an Ultra 20 workstation that will be given to a delegate on Saturday at the closing ceremony.
We've been absolutely swamped the whole time, from 10am until the event closes at 9pm, with the usual intelligent enthusiasm I've come to expect in Brazil. The event has maybe 5,000 attendees, and has a wide range of lectures in addition to the GPL v3 conference which is hosted within FISL today and tomorrow (where I'll be speaking on a panel concerning license compatibility).
What's truly amazing is who's not here. The event seems to have been forgotten by some of its supporters from previous years - where's IBM, for example? The energy and potential is enormous, as Jonathan has noticed, and I'm thrilled to be here - the future is not just in the East.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 21 2006, 07:37:33 AM PDT )
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Wednesday April 19, 2006 links for 2006-04-20
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It's official; Sun is a Gold sponsor of the GNOME conference, GUADEC, and I'll be delivering a keynote.
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Stephen analyses Hovespian's comments about OpenSolaris and finds them deeply wanting - as out-of-touch with the realities of open source as you could imagine. I'd find this very worrying if I worked for Novell.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 19 2006, 06:27:46 PM PDT )
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Monday April 17, 2006 Is DReAM A Nightmare?
Reading Cory Doctorow's article discussing the junction of DRM1 and Free/Open Source Software (F/OSS) and then Andrew Orlowski's interviews in The Register over the weekend, I have to say that I agree with much of what Cory has to say2 concerning Sun's Project DReAM.
In my view, the project has unfortunately conflated two different debates. By invoking F/OSS it automatically brings with it the worldview that implies. In the dialectic of that world, software is considered to either promote liberty or to promote monopoly, with F/OSS always promoting liberty. By associating DRM (which can never promote liberty) and F/OSS (which always does), anyone is guaranteed to come across as initially clueless, it is a semantic inevitability. This is the justified attack that Cory makes and he has my respect and broad agreement in making the point.
However the experimental project is licensed3, it doesn't change the fact that Sun groks software freedom. We've realised that the business of software doesn't depend on keeping the source code secret - in the networked era that simply limits the opportunities. Freeing the source code and opening up development to communities is becoming an instinct - one the DReAM team has rightly followed.
Is There A Place for Pragmatism?
But to my eyes, Project DReAM is not an open source play. I can't help believe that DRM will be a fact of life for at least the next five years. My view is that it's a disaster for modern culture, not least because it destroys "fair use" rights by quantising discretion. But, like death and taxes, it seems inescapable. So given we have to head into this void, the DReAM approach is to try to create a system that is the least worst option.
The truth remains that as people create IPTV systems and music distribution systems and more, they will use DRM, even if it is bad for the customer. It seems churlish to let the stuff Big Media is churning out place a generation of culture out of the reach of the ordinary citizen - to not play is to guarantee that, if Tim is wrong and this stuff takes hold, it's all the domain of the bad guys. As comes across from David Berlind's interview with Tom Jacobs, surely there is room for technology experimentation to see if it's possible to find a way to defend fair use in a world hell-bent on eliminating it? That seems to be the point Lawrence Lessig was making:
We should have laws that encouraged a DRM-free world. We should demonstrate practices that make compelling a DRM-free world. All of that should, I thought, be clear. But just as one can hate the Sonny Bono Act, but think, if there’s a Sonny Bono Act, there should also be a Public Domain Enhancement Act, so too can one hate DRM, but think that if there’s DRM, it should be at least as Sun is saying it should be.
I agree with Lessig (and Richard Stallman). Within that frame, I've been happy to support the (definitely incomplete) experimentation that Project DReAM represents - flat refusal to explore the space is unsatisfyingly dogmatic. I'll carry on watching, with an open mind, but for now I'm mostly with Cory.
- Digital Restrictions Management is the term I prefer to expand this acronym as the technology is about using one's "rights" to restrict others access.
- Mind you, some might regard this as special pleading in a context that's had a problem coming for ages. In the F/OSS communities we've spent way too long focussing on licenses and legalism and not nearly enough time considering the governance of communities or the nature of "content". This is being addressed in GPL v3 but until that's current, complete with a DRM prohibition, I see no reason why any field of endeavour can't be F/OSS licensed within the current rules and outlooks. This isn't an "older outlook", Cory, this is what happens when F/OSS is only defined in times of licenses. But I agree we as a community need to address it.
- Frankly, I would rather have Project DReAM under a Free software license (as it is) than a proprietary license.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 17 2006, 08:15:00 AM PDT )
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Comments [1]
Saturday April 15, 2006 links for 2006-04-16
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I'm with David on this one. It's good it supports the standard, great that I can read it in iCal on OS X, but until I can sync it with iCal (or even auto-upload it) it's no use to me. As David points out, with a commodity it's the defects that are decisiv
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"Read it. Understand it. You are not serious about these issues -- on either side of these debates -- unless you have read this book." -- Lawrence Lessig
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I'm about to place an order for this, I'll be reading the PDF until it arrives.
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"Yes, I am now approving every comment here. And I will delete any that don't add value to either my life or the lives of my readers ... That, I'm sure, will lead to attacks of "censorship" and all that hooey" But not from me. Congratulations!
Posted by webmink
( Apr 15 2006, 06:20:20 PM PDT )
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Thursday April 13, 2006 Schwartz Meets Brazil's President
One of the things I've known about for a few weeks and been longing to share happened this week. Whereas some corporate leaders get rebuffed, Sun's President Jonathan Schwartz had the honour of meeting Brazil's President Lula da Silva in Brazil. They talked about initiatives to address digitial inclusion together and how Sun can support Brazil more as a growing technology economy, especially in connection with free/open source software. There's coverage in Portuguese, for which the translation may or may not help! There's more to tell, I dearly hope I'll be able to talk about it during FISL next week.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 13 2006, 06:21:19 PM PDT )
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links for 2006-04-14
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The languages: Assamese, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Urdu. The power of open source is that it can be globally localised based on a local business case and not demanding a return to a US-based corporation.
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More useful Microsoft insight from Stephe Walli.
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This story has been around for ages - people need to see what a bad citizen D-Link is being here and vote with their purchases. It would cost them approximately nothing to address the issue now.
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Get a free Firewire adaptor for your iPod - the manufacturers are giving away 1000 of them (you pay shipping).
Posted by webmink
( Apr 13 2006, 06:20:19 PM PDT )
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Wednesday April 12, 2006 links for 2006-04-13
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If you must use their stuff at least be green and recycle...
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TreeHugger likes the new SunRays.
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The idea is great - give them a first-hand experience with which to understand the issues DRM raises - but I can't help feeling these unrequested gifts will miss their intended recipients who will stay ignorant or owned.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 12 2006, 06:24:18 PM PDT )
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Tuesday April 11, 2006 Enterprise Java Tools Opened - In Brazil
Following on from the CDC tools, as James notes, we're announcing today that the heart of Sun Java Studio Enterprise - including especially the modelling tools - is becoming an open source project at NetBeans, the Netbeans Enterprise Pack. This is an important next step in the gradual open sourcing of Sun's software - kudos to the tools team for this bold step.
One footnote: this announcement is in support of the Java Tech Days event down in Brazil this week. Open source is a global phenomenon, even for a US-based company like Sun, and Brazil is ne of the key countries to watch as the phenomenon develops - hence my visit to FISL next week where I will be discussing the forthcoming GPL v3.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 11 2006, 08:31:00 PM PDT )
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links for 2006-04-12
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UserFriendly suggests another interpretation for "DRM".
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Early support for multiple ODF formats now present in KOffice. The fire spreads.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 11 2006, 08:21:25 PM PDT )
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Monday April 10, 2006 links for 2006-04-11
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So it wasn't Oracle. Much better tempramental fit, and a welcome endorsement of Jave EE from Red Hat.
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Discussing the move in Minnesota. I'm quoted.
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Seems blogging brings a new dimension to "due diligence". I wonder what else has gone?
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Phone-to-phone convenience with Skype prices. Has to be a hit.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 10 2006, 06:20:34 PM PDT )
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Sunday April 09, 2006 links for 2006-04-10
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More torrents of legal free downloads, this time with all the music from SXSW 2006.
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Insightful discussion of the causes of the strikes and unrest in France.
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"Firefighters were called in from all the surrounding states," Wheeler said. "But all they could do was stand and watch the building burn, because their firehoses would not fit on the fire hydrants." (Baltimore hydrants all followed a local standard...)
Posted by webmink
( Apr 09 2006, 06:18:30 PM PDT )
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Saturday April 08, 2006 links for 2006-04-09
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The law looks superficially useful - making spyware illegal - but gives those with an apparently legitimate reason to install software that phones home almost unlimited freedom to violate your privacy. The perils of bowing to interest groups.
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A load of music from SXSW 2005 is available for free, legal download direct from SXSW.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 08 2006, 06:18:24 PM PDT )
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Friday April 07, 2006 links for 2006-04-08
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I'm sure something like this has been around for many years. I know I need it in my study, the kitchen and the kids rooms though.
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What's more, breathing other people's smoke is more risky than smoking. We need that ban on smoking in restaurants, and we need it now.
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"More than just threatening individuals' privacy, AT&T's apparent choice to give the government secret, direct access to millions of ordinary Americans' Internet communications is a threat to the Constitution itself."
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I thought they had more class (and a better sense of humour) than this. Seems the DMCA brings out the worst in people.
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She said it would be unthinkable, for example, to force Norwegians to use one telephone company when calling public offices. "But that, in principle, is what we have allowed in the computer sector," she was quoted as saying.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 07 2006, 06:17:52 PM PDT )
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Thursday April 06, 2006 links for 2006-04-07
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Very promising virtual desktop manager for OS X with an intuitive grasp of the principles of use for OS X. Well worth a try.
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I'm confirmed to speak at this one in July in Wolverhampton. See you there.
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No doubt there will be cries of "bad faith". Personally, I am coming to the conclusion that while a Foundation can be part of openness, it by no means defines it.
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It's not just the similarity of "Libby" to "Liddy" that makes this case constantly remind me of Watergate. Where are this issue's Woodward & Bernstein?
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Some excellent examples of how to fix reality with photoshop - roll your mouse over the photos to see the "before" image.
Posted by webmink
( Apr 06 2006, 06:18:31 PM PDT )
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