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Election 2006 (and beyond): Digital Copyright Canada

Free/Libre Software and Community Networking FORUM

Re: [AT-IT] a paper on information and communications for developing

From: keb_-at-_Cyblings.ON.CA (Krishna E. Bera)
Date: 22 Nov 1999 21:40:23 -0500
References: <Pine.LNX.4.10.9911220835040.5343-100000@calcutta.flora.ottawa.on.ca>

|       If the General Public License (GPL) ensures public access to
|  free/open software, genuine compulsory licensing (GCL) provides an
|  internationally-recognized mechanism for public access to commercial
|  software and other copyrighted or patented goods.

I don't understand why this is needed: why should other governments pay
the holders of copyrights/patents?  Once the research and development 
costs are paid for (probably by the originating country's citizens thru 
corporate welfare) there is no reason to pay anymore, to anyone.  If 
support services are required, they need not be tied to having a license 
to use the software...  If everyone does this (basically legalizing
"piracy" thru noncooperation) no one will develop proprietary technology.  
Good riddance.

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