Richard Stallman

[1/4] https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/15/beauty-eh/
https://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html

Cory Doctorow: Instead of retaliating towards US tariffs with its own Tariffs, it should retaliate by repealing the Canadian equivalent of the DMCA. And it should follow up by publishing jailbreaks for various US companies that are jails. Doctorow argues that that would do far more harm to oppressive US companies that sell people jails, including Apple, Google, John Deere and car companies, and

Pluralistic: Canada shouldn’t retaliate with US tariffs; Picks and Shovels Chapter One (Part 6 – CONCLUSION) (15 Jan 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

Jul 13 at 6:20amWeb
Show threadRichard StallmanJul 13
[2/4] would avoid raising prices for Canadians. I criticize the article's choice of terminology. When talking about copyright laws such as the DMCA, it refers to them by the over-general and vague term "IP". That term is always an overgeneralization and we should never use it. It also refers to digital handcuffs as "digital locks". The most important thing about DRM and other digital handcuffs is that they are fundamentally unlike locks. Locks, in general, are not nasty or unjust in that
Show threadRichard StallmanJul 13
[3/4] way The lock on your door doesn't oppress you - because you have the key. Your password is a lock on your computer that does oppress you because you choose and you have the key (password) to open it. Protecting your control over your home or your computer is not an injustice. the systems that companies use to restrict what you can do with your computer are handcuffs, not locks. The handcuffs are unjust towards you because the companies put them on you. Digital handcuffs are an
Show threadRichard StallmanJul 13
[4/4] injustice because they give a company control. If we call them "locks", that tends to legitimize them - so let's not!
Show threadToni AittoniemiJul 13
@rms Exactly.
The EU is looking to revitalise it’s own tech sector? Do the same, drop the legislation that protects US companies interests here.
Show threadToni AittoniemiJul 13

@rms @Piratenpartij @piratenpartei @piratepartyau @PiratenMastodon

I see a very clear #PirateParty case here:

Let’s rewrite the IP law that gives US companies an edge over EU technology companies, and make it work for us instea.

USA is engaged in classic #mercantilism: Use threats & international trade agreements to benefit it’s own companies while undercutting the same sector in potential competitor states.

Show threadToni AittoniemiJul 13

@rms @Piratenpartij @piratenpartei @piratepartyau @PiratenMastodon continued:

The free trade agreements between the EU and USA that allow us to purchase their goods came with a price: Legislation that allows their companies to block right-to-repair, stop us from reverse-engineering etc.

But now with threats of removing free trade, why should we keep our end of the previous deal?

This is Trump bullshitting us.