I wrote an editorial for kerneltrap.org: Linux: GPLv3, DRM, and Exceptions It’s an attempt at a review of where we are with regards to what GPLv3 will say about DRM, and what options are open for the Linux kernel developers. NOTE: my RSS feed is working again with live bookmarks. UPDATE: Discussion of this article Read more »
Some friends in Ireland have been working on GNU/Linux distro that will be completely free software. The name is gNewSense, and its website is at: http://www.gnewsense.org/ Two guys are currently doing the bulk of the work. They are Brian Brazil and Paul O’Malley. One job still to be done is to remove some binary blobs Read more »
During the GPLv3 debate, some people have raise the question of what to do when some regulation requires that software must not be modifiable. Examples of this may include government, or standards body, regulated technology such as radios, network cards, or medical equipment. Richard Stallman offered the response that the hardware manufacturers can put that Read more »
While discussing GPLv3, some people have suggested that even when version 3 of the GPL is released, the Linux kernel developers will not have the option of using it due to copyright reasons. This is incorrect, but it is based on a real problem: The Linux kernel has no structures in place to facilitate relicensing. Read more »
(Update: There is now a list of free software transcripts, including a section for RMS transcripts.) Below is a transcript of Richard Stallman’s presentation, on a panel titled "Is Free/Open Source Software the Answer?", on the 18th of November at the 2005 World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunisia. For more on WSIS, Read more »
A look at the good and bad of four proposed methods for fighting software patents. Prior art Patent pools Our licences Lobbying 1. Prior art The plan: build up a catalogue of ideas that exist in free software projects so that when a free software developer is threatened with patent infringement, we can point out Read more »
Oct 3rd: http://DRM.info was launched today. The aim is to make an information portal where people can see real world uses of DRM, how it affects a variety of sectors, and who is together in rejecting it. Here’s the press release. If you want to raise awareness of DRM, probably the easiest thing you can Read more »
I recorded my talk "GPL: what can v3 improve?" at aKademy 2006 on my digital camera. Below is a video and the timeline of the talk. I still need practice at public speaking, but I’m getting better. I’m good enough to be a discussion starter for certain FSFE issues, but I should say at the Read more »
It’s just been announced that the 5th international GPLv3 conference will be held on November 21 and 22, in Akihabara UDX Conference Room A+B, Tokyo, Japan. The international conferences are part of the year-long effort to maximise awareness of the proposed changes and to solicit input from as many people as possible. The four previous Read more »