[Nottingham] Android Freedoms - Or lack of?

[Martin]

On 21 September 2011 08:35, Jason Irwin <jasonirwin73 at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 20/09/11 19:07, Martin wrote:
>> Is Android really free software?
>
> Heh.  Caught that, not had a chance to read the articles yet.
>
> I finished his book whilst on holiday and it's interesting.  His views
> on software patents etc and the general concept of freedoms I can agree
> with.  He appears to have some rather twisted views on how science works
> (maybe things are different in the USA?).  I think he is totally wrong
> on copyright.  I do not understand why he thinks that it is 'OK' to
> trade the work of another without remuneration, that society has some
> inalienable right to take a persons work and not reward them for it.
> Sorry, but that is just so wrong on so many levels that I do not know
> where to begin.

I'm working my way through as time permits. He does have a very clear
if a little harsh a writing style.

> Of course, that does not mean that the copyright system isn't abused
> because it sure as heck is; and that also does not mean that copyright
> shouldn't be limited to some sensible term.  But really, being able to
> copy any work in full and pass it around?  No, sorry.  Wrong.

Well... Looks like the media/music/film industry have recently lobbied
hard (expensively) enough to abuse the system yet further to a term of
SEVENTY YEARS for the EU...

> I was very interested to read the essays on the GPL.  It seems that the
> "...blah de blah and licensed under GPLv3, or any later version..." is
> merely a suggestion to include in the license notice and not actually
> part of the license itself.  So one is free to include it or not.

Interesting. However, as discussed, that suggestion actually goes
against some of what rms himself advocates...

> Of course, maybe I'm wrong in all the above (I often am).
>
> Can't make tonight due to other commitments, normal service should
> resume in a fortnight.

No worries,

Have fun!

Cheers,
Martin