Topic 12 – Share, Remix, Reuse…legally ?

Lecture - ECL / CC / FOSS….omgwtfbbq

Due to the way in which the internet has been constructed, no single body can control the entire network. Each country or network has provisions which users are required to adhere to. The internet experiences exponential growth with the availability of new technology reaching more and more people around the globe. As a result, the internet has become a key concern for governments and corporations who are vying for control of the masses. The key issue presented is the decrease of privacy and electronic civil liberties as governments and corporations tighten their grip on the users.

Ideally the internet should be a neutral net, which put simply means equality should be maintained through out the network. However, ISPs and corporations oppose a neutral net instead prioritizing their own data agenda. One of the most blatant examples of data shaping is carried out by Rogers (Canadian equivalent of Telstra) who after 20mins will decrease your internet bandwidth if you are deemed to be using a VOIP service such as Skype. Alternatively ISPs or networks may just completely disable certain types of data traffic in an attempt to control user actions, with peer-to-peer networks are usual targets. Other forms of civil liberty infractions may also include content filtering which disables access to certain internet content. This is especially evident in China where many American websites are blocked from being access anywhere in the country. Countries such as America and Britain are known to actively spy on internet users by tracking their online activity and flagging specific behavior for analysis. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is an organization which aims to maintain fundamental digital rights of users including free speech, intellectual property, international laws and privacy concerns.

Creative Commons is an alternative method of licensing content which allows users certain freedoms not gained through the use of traditional copyright. Most notably, Creative Commons (CC) allows users to remix or recreate work for nonprofit purposes and be legally used online. This organization was created in order to fulfill the need for a new type of copyright which better adapted to the online environment.

Reading

Why Software Should Not Have Owners

The article “Why Software Should Not Have Owners” by Richard Stallman argues that proprietary software is a negative influence in society which creates more problems than solutions. A key distinction made in the article is line of thinking perpetuated by software owners to guide the mass market. Stallman mentions specifically that intuitions about traditional theft do not apply in the digital environment due to the lack of a physical good. Another critical aspect is the exaggeration used by owners in gauging their losses by counting the numbers of copies not even considering the actual intent of purchase. Stallman argues that software should be open in order for people to cooperate openly and freely.

FLOSS

Free/Libré/Open Source Software (FLOSS), free software is software that anyone can use, copy, improve, examine or distribute, either at no cost or for a price as described by the author. FLOSS blurs the line between users and creator and affords all users with the ability to use software in methods they intend. ‘Free’ in this context refers to freedoms which can be undertaken with modification or co-creation of the software. The software can be free in a conventional sense however some creators may charge a small amount for their works. Customization plays a huge role in the distribution of paid ‘free’ software as organizations may customize the software for different consumers.

Cory Doctorow: Creative Commons