www/philosophy public-domain-manifesto.html

[Yavor Doganov]

CVSROOT:        /web/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Yavor Doganov <yavor>   10/02/24 11:58:03

Modified files:
        philosophy     : public-domain-manifesto.html 

Log message:
        Minor formatting changes.  Refill paragraphs.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/philosophy/public-domain-manifesto.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.1&r2=1.2

Patches:
Index: public-domain-manifesto.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /web/www/www/philosophy/public-domain-manifesto.html,v
retrieving revision 1.1
retrieving revision 1.2
diff -u -b -r1.1 -r1.2
--- public-domain-manifesto.html        23 Feb 2010 19:28:50 -0000      1.1
+++ public-domain-manifesto.html        24 Feb 2010 11:57:58 -0000      1.2
@@ -8,33 +8,38 @@
 <p>by <a href="http://www.stallman.org/";>Richard M. Stallman</a></p>
 
 <p>The Public Domain Manifesto
-(<a 
href="http://www.publicdomainmanifesto.org/node/8";>http://www.publicdomainmanifesto.org/node/8</a>)
 has its heart in the
-right place as it objects to some of the unjust extensions of
-copyright power, so I wish I could support it.  However, it falls far
-short of what is needed.</p> 
+(<a 
href="http://www.publicdomainmanifesto.org/node/8";>http://www.publicdomainmanifesto.org/node/8</a>)
+has its heart in the right place as it objects to some of the unjust
+extensions of copyright power, so I wish I could support it.  However,
+it falls far short of what is needed.</p>
  
 <p>Some flaws are at the level of implicit assumptions.  The manifesto
-frequently uses <a 
href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html";>propaganda terms</a> 
of the copyright industry, such as
-<a 
href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Protection";>"copyright 
protection".</a> These terms were chosen to lead people to
+frequently uses <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">propaganda
+terms</a> of the copyright industry, such as
+<a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Protection">&ldquo;copyright
+protection&rdquo;</a>.  These terms were chosen to lead people to
 sympathize with the copyright industry and its demands for power.</p> 
  
-<p>The manifesto and its signatories use the term "intellectual
-property", which confuses the issue of copyright by lumping it
+<p>The manifesto and its signatories use the term &ldquo;intellectual
+property&rdquo;, which confuses the issue of copyright by lumping it
 together with a dozen other laws that have nothing significant in
-common.  (See <a 
href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html";>http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html</a>
 for more
-explanation about this point.)  Ironically it uses the term first in a
-sentence which points out that this manifesto is concerned only with
-copyright law, not with those other laws.  That is with good reason:
-the other laws are not relevant to copying and using published works.
-If we seek to teach the public to distinguish between these laws, we
-should avoid setting an example which spuriously lumps them together.</p> 
+common.
+(See <a 
href="/philosophy/not-ipr.html">http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html</a>
+for more explanation about this point.)  Ironically it uses the term
+first in a sentence which points out that this manifesto is concerned
+only with copyright law, not with those other laws.  That is with good
+reason: the other laws are not relevant to copying and using published
+works.  If we seek to teach the public to distinguish between these
+laws, we should avoid setting an example which spuriously lumps them
+together.</p>
  
 <p>General Principle 2 repeats the common error that copyright should
-balance the public interest with "protecting and rewarding the
-author".  This error interferes with proper judgment of any copyright
-policy question, since that should be based on the public interest.
-<a 
href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html";>http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html</a>
 explains
-this error and how to avoid it.</p> 
+balance the public interest with &ldquo;protecting and rewarding the
+author&rdquo;.  This error interferes with proper judgment of any
+copyright policy question, since that should be based on the public
+interest.
+<a 
href="/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html">http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html</a>
+explains this error and how to avoid it.</p>
  
 <p>It would be difficult to stand aside from a campaign for the right
 goals merely because it was written with unclear words.  However, the
@@ -44,41 +49,43 @@
 signing my name to them.</p> 
  
 <p>Rather the problem is that it fails to ask for the most important
-points.  I cannot say, "This manifesto is what I stand for."  I cannot
-say, "I support what's in this manifesto," unless I can add, equally
-visibly, "But it fails to mention the most important points of all."</p> 
- 
-<p>General Principle 5 opposes contracts that restrict use of copies of
-public domain works.  But where we most need to oppose such contracts
-is where they apply to works that are still copyrighted (this is how
-Amazon tries to claim that you don't own the e-book that you bought).
-Likewise, General Principle 5 condemns DRM, but only when it applies
-to a public domain work.  In effect, it legitimizes most real DRM by
-omitting it from criticism.</p> 
+points.  I cannot say, &ldquo;This manifesto is what I stand
+for.&rdquo; I cannot say, &ldquo;I support what's in this
+manifesto,&rdquo; unless I can add, equally visibly, &ldquo;But it
+fails to mention the most important points of all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>General Principle 5 opposes contracts that restrict use of copies
+of public domain works.  But where we most need to oppose such
+contracts is where they apply to works that are still copyrighted
+(this is how Amazon tries to claim that you don't own the e-book that
+you bought).  Likewise, General Principle 5
+condemns <acronym title="Digital Restrictions Management">DRM</acronym>,
+but only when it applies to a public domain work.  In effect, it
+legitimizes most real DRM by omitting it from criticism.</p>
  
 <p>I've saved the biggest omission for last.  General Recommendation 9
-calls for allowing "personal copying" of copyrighted works.  Since it
-omits the issue of the freedom to share copies of published works with
-others, it fails to address the nastiest aspect of copyright: the
-vicious <a 
href="http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/war-on-sharing-riaa-lawsuits";>War on 
Sharing</a> that the entertainment companies are now
-waging.</p> 
- 
-<p>The demands and recommendations of the Public Domain Manifesto would
-be a step forward.  It may do some good if it inspires people who have
-accepted the industry position to begin to doubt it.  However, if we 
-adopt this manifesto as our goal, it will distract us from what we
-really need to fight for.</p> 
- 
-<p>The Public Domain Manifesto tries to defend our freedom within the walled
-garden of the public domain, but abandons that freedom outside it.
-This is not enough.</p> 
- 
-<p>I ask the authors of the Public Domain Manifesto, and the public, to
-please join me in demanding the freedom to noncommercially share
-copies of all published works. Also please join
- 
-<a href="http://defectivebydesign.org";>DefectiveByDesign.org</a> and help our
-fight against DRM wherever it may be found.</p> 
+calls for allowing &ldquo;personal copying&rdquo; of copyrighted
+works.  Since it omits the issue of the freedom to share copies of
+published works with others, it fails to address the nastiest aspect
+of copyright: the
+vicious <a 
href="http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/war-on-sharing-riaa-lawsuits";>War
+on Sharing</a> that the entertainment companies are now waging.</p>
+
+<p>The demands and recommendations of the Public Domain Manifesto
+would be a step forward.  It may do some good if it inspires people
+who have accepted the industry position to begin to doubt it.
+However, if we adopt this manifesto as our goal, it will distract us
+from what we really need to fight for.</p>
+
+<p>The Public Domain Manifesto tries to defend our freedom within the
+walled garden of the public domain, but abandons that freedom outside
+it.  This is not enough.</p>
+
+<p>I ask the authors of the Public Domain Manifesto, and the public,
+to please join me in demanding the freedom to noncommercially share
+copies of all published works.  Also please
+join <a href="http://defectivebydesign.org";>DefectiveByDesign.org</a>
+and help our fight against DRM wherever it may be found.</p>
  
 </div>
 <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
@@ -113,7 +120,7 @@
 
 <p>Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2010/02/23 19:28:50 $
+$Date: 2010/02/24 11:57:58 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>