Towards autono.my

Posted on 16 July 2008
Filed under FOSS, Personal
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I’ve been an advocate for freedom in Web services for, well, years now. So I was happy to learn of the launch of open microblogging service identi.ca recently, and of autonomo.us and its Franklin Street Statement on Freedom and Network Services. Pleasantly, the autonomo.us wiki already links to my article and talk on the subject.

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FOSS and socially responsible investing

Posted on 30 June 2008
Filed under FOSS
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Check out the post at the SFLC blog. I’ve said for some time that free culture is a matter of social responsibility — I think it’s a good frame for the issue, and helps people understand why it matters.

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My latest column on Web apps and FOSS

Posted on 3 June 2008
Filed under FOSS, Personal
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(I had accidentally posted this in the wrong place earlier; posting it here now.)

My new column for Free Software Magazine is titled “Free software vs. software-as-a-service: Is the GPL too weak for the Web?”. It looks at the rise of the Web application — including Facebook, Flickr, Google Apps, and the like — and how to preserve user freedom in this new environment. You can read the article or download it as a PDF.

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Speaking @ Fla. Linux Show on FOSS vs. SaaS

Posted on 11 February 2008
Filed under FOSS, Florida, Linux, Personal
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I’m giving a presentation at the Florida Linux Show in Jacksonville on Monday, Feb. 11. My presentation is on Software as a Service: Implications of Web Apps for Software Freedom (a topic I previously ranted about at GatorLUG); it’s at 9:30 am. I’ll post the slides here when they’re available.

Update: Slides are here. Thanks to a great audience!

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FSF to libraries: boycott DRM

Posted on 7 February 2008
Filed under Copyright, DRM, FOSS, Libraries
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Sometimes, different interests of mine will intersect in fascinating ways. Here’s one: the Free Software Foundation’s DefectiveByDesign.org campaign is asking libraries to boycott DRM, digital restrictions on content the library purchases or subscribes to. Specifically, DbD is targeting the Boston Public Library for its use of OverDrive’s Digital Library Reserve platform.

I would expect libraries to be receptive to the message of eliminating DRM — DRM is diametrically opposed to libraries’ missions of access and preservation, and is an awful abuse of copyright law against the public interest. But it’s hard to argue that libraries should forgo access altogether to DRM-crippled content if they can’t negotiate out of it or acquire the content from another source. (Exhibit A: The Boston library’s response.) With that said, there’s plenty of room for library pushback against DRM, which could further signal vendors that there’s no market for it. We’ll see how this turns out.

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EPrints sells out free software: more Apple crippleware prizes

Posted on 30 October 2007
Filed under FOSS, Open access
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EPrints, the important FOSS open archive project — widely used by open access repositories — is organizing a call for plugins. Unfortunately, EPrints has followed Mozilla’s lead and is awarding DRM-crippled, proprietary Apple products as prizes.

The EPrints package is even included in the GNU Project. I am very disappointed in this move; they should know better. Supporting Apple’s anti-competitive business practices that limit users’ freedoms is not in the public interest.

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Why is Mozilla selling out free software?

Posted on 23 October 2007
Filed under FOSS
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Promote Firefox, win a Mac full of proprietary software. Wait, what?

You do realize that OS X doesn’t even come with Firefox pre-loaded, right?

And you do realize that other manufacturers offer laptops pre-loaded with Firefox and Linux, right?

So why in the world should the prize for promoting open source be closed?

Update: Mozilla is also giving away a Macbook for their Extend Firefox contest. For the avoidance of doubt: “Apple is not a sponsor of the Extend Firefox competition.”

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Upcoming presentation in Gainesville, Fla.: software as a service

Posted on 16 October 2007
Filed under FOSS, Linux, Personal
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On Wednesday, 16 17 October 2007, I am giving a presentation on “Software as a Service (or, Why I Hate Facebook)”. The presentation is at the GatorLUG meeting at 6 pm at Virtually Cuban (2409 SW 13th St.).

I’ll post the presentation here when I have a chance.

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