On Mon, 2004-05-17 at 14:58 -0700, Jonathan Gardner wrote: > Is the BSA (Business Software Alliance) just a figment of our imaginations, > or are they not *extorting* money out of small businesses who merely can't > find their licenses or who don't have the resources to do a complete audit? > Do they not drop by, demand evidence of compliance without any evidence of > violations, and threaten with federal prosecution if they don't comply? > Whatever happened to the freedoms outlined in the US Consitution? Just for reference... Guitar maker plays a Linux tune http://archive.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/11/27/021127hnerniball.xml?s=IDGNS Also about Ernie Ball: http://linux.bryanconsulting.com/stories/storyReader$172 > Believe what you want, but reality *is* more grim than you imagine. The > stuff that is happening now in the US is merely a few months ahead of what > will happen in Europe. I don't know where you are located -- I can't > pretend to know -- but just because software licensing and patents aren't > an issue where you live doesn't mean that it isn't an issue where I live. And many rather live in a make believe world saying Europe is unlike the USA. The EU approved (yes, it's already past tense although very recent) a directive that allows one's home to be raided by private police at the command of "rights" holders without a judge or court order. Be ready... Member-states have two years from the date the directive is published in the EU Journal (is this the name?) to implement it in their countries. Translation for USA citizens: think Directive == Act, State == Member-state. Get the picture of how bad it is going to be? Well, RIAA going after kids in schools is not enough, hey? Rui
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