Copyright vs Community in the Age of Computer Nets

Event published by Rms

Event date: March 05, 2011 10:00

Tagged as: culture repression social_struggles

Places: sheffield

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Copyright developed in the age of the printing press and was designed to fit in with the system of centralised copying imposed by this technology. But, the copyright system does not fit well with computer networks and only Draconian punishments can enforce it. The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for Draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public access to technology. But if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of copyright, to promote progress for the benefit of the public, then we must make changes in the other direction.

Richard Stallman launched the development of the GNU operating system (see www.gnu.org) in 1983. GNU is free software – everyone has the freedom to copy it and redistribute it, as well as to make changes, either large or small. The GNU/Linux system, basically the GNU operating system with Linux added is used on tens of millions of computers today.  The lecture is free but you will have to register in order to cover health and safety regulations.

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