Re: [d@DCC] DRM for email

From: Russell McOrmond <russell _-at-_ flora.ca>
To: General Discussion <discuss (at) digital-copyright.ca>
Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2002 22:48:35 -0500 (EST)

On Sat, 23 Nov 2002, tOM Trottier wrote:

> > need to worry about the Government of Canada.  While we aren't in good 
> > shape at the moment, we do have  a few key individuals in the right places 
> > to be moving Canada towards a standards base.
> 
> Will Canada mandate open standards for all software... wow!

  It is quite possible.  If we assume this is the only right thing to do, 
and speak and act as if it is just a matter of public sector education, 
then it becomes even more likely.   Believing that we can't win and just 
'opposing' things that haven't happened yet won't help us.


  Each door that gets opened to me introduces me to yet another person who
has open eyes and ears and wants to hear another side to the story.  They
hear only one version from the vendors that are pushing their wares and
'policy suggestions', and want to hear people with a less financially
motivated way of looking at things.

> > BTW: Don't assume maliciousness when lack of knowledge is just as 
> > possible.  I believe our primary goal remains public education.
> 
> Certainly, but I would like the decision-makers' backs to prickle when 
> they hear of ways for big corporations to tie up standards or content 
> in tangles of encryptions and obfuscation.


  This can only happen if:

  a) they begin to understand that there is an alternative.  Two pieces of
software not being able to talk to each other isn't just "a fact of life
with computers", but a deliberate design decision based on an outdated
business model.

  b) that they recognize when things are closed up without reason.  The
discussion of "Legal protection for TPM" is very interesting as there is a
big "ahh, now I get it" when someone finally understands that this has
little to do with protecting the rights of creators of non-software works,
and much more to do with protecting the ICT monopolies (against
competitors, against citizens rights, against non-software creator
rights).




BTW:  Looking forward to hearing more reports of visits to MP's offices
(either your own, or of the party of your choice).  We do have the section
92 report in front of parliamentarians which can be a basis of an
introductory meeting.

---
 Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
 See http://weblog.flora.ca/ for announcements, activities, and opinions
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