Comments for GeekPAC

Comment on Walmart retires DRM, deserts users on the way to freedom. by Maria Rabinovitch

Maria Rabinovitch — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:49:01 +0000

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13739_3-10112046-46.html
Although Walmart’s initiative is great, it is impossible not to wonder what is going to happen to those that purchased the files prior to this decision. For those consumers it is that important to that the Copyright Office approve the DMCA exceptions requested this year. One of these requests is that consumers be allowed to circumvent DRM on content from stores that are no longer on business or have shutdown.
Furthermore, there are several other exceptions that everyone can relate to. As a student, I can relate to the complementary filings asked by several universities, UC Berkeley among them. The idea that not even professors have the right to create compilations from DVDs with the purpose of educating students, is outrageous. Not allowing consumers to use their property as they wish is bad enough already.
There are currently 19 exceptions to the DMCA requested for this year. These exceptions are meant to defend consumers and their rights to fair use of their property. From the use of downloaded music to the software that one wishes to use in one’s smart phone, these exceptions are looking after, us, the consumers.

Comment on Walmart retires DRM, deserts users on the way to freedom. by Books and Magazines Blog » Archive » Walmart retires DRM, deserts users on the way to freedom.

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:11:03 +0000

[...] Original post by GeekPAC [...]

Comment on GeekPAC to Form Political Action Committee Around Technology Issues; Launches Fundraiser by Silona

Silona — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:16:27 +0000

YEA!!!

Comment on Beware of Lobbyists Bearing Gifts by Working @ WebConnectConsulting.com » BRM And Why You Should Be Concerned

Working @ WebConnectConsulting.com » BRM And Why You Should Be Concerned — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:58:36 +0000

[...] format in drag. Join Mr. Updegrove, Groklaw, the Free Software Foundation, the FSF Europe, ByteFree, Google, and myself in urging ISO and your country’s “national body” ISO [...]

Comment on Video Snippets of AB 1668 Hearing by 2008: The Year of Open Document Formats? « Opportunity Knocks

2008: The Year of Open Document Formats? « Opportunity Knocks — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:35:19 +0000

[...] The challenge is to avoid being portrayed as some kind of nutzo extremists. Just as they did with the AB1668 hearings, leading vendors will try to say that they represent "the American way" and that openness advocates are anti-social throwbacks to the 1960s and 1970s, burning draft cards and bras, while munching on granola and wearing Birkenstocks.Our neighbors and coworkers need to see that we are normal people, just like them, who wish to smooth out some of the speed bumps that slow down data interchange and hinder long-term data preservation. They need to see that we are seeking our children’s (and their children’s) best interests when we insist that their schools stop teaching how to use a specific brand and version of software, instead teaching the general principles that apply to all brands, and offer to give the schools and their students free CDs of OpenOffice or Symphony. They need to see that we are helping poor and rich alike when we insist that our local governments standardize on ODF and other open standard file formats. [...]

Comment on More Video – Microsoft-led Opposition by 2008: The Year of Open Document Formats? « Opportunity Knocks

2008: The Year of Open Document Formats? « Opportunity Knocks — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:33:30 +0000

[...] challenge is to avoid being portrayed as some kind of nutzo extremists. Just as they did with the AB1668 hearings, leading vendors will try to say that they represent "the American way" and that openness [...]

Comment on California Assembly Bill 1668 by 2008: The Year of Open Document Formats? « Opportunity Knocks

2008: The Year of Open Document Formats? « Opportunity Knocks — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:04:50 +0000

[...] to grab market share from them. I wrote an essay last year about open file formats legislation (AB1668) that was being considered by the California legislature. The Orange County Register [...]

Comment on Beware of Lobbyists Bearing Gifts by The Emerging Conflict: Corporate Interests Vs. Your Interests « Opportunity Knocks

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:07:56 +0000

[...] don’t need to have out-of-state corporations deciding whether our government agencies will use open standard file forma…–this is a decision for the citizens and residents of a state, and not corporate [...]

Comment on All Your Rights Are Belong to Us by Independence Day Greetings « Opportunity Knocks

Independence Day Greetings « Opportunity Knocks — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:24:26 +0000

[...] of regulatory agencies) corporate activities. Examples abound, but the way that Microsoft is manipulating the political process to force our state governments (and their citizens) into economic… (using Not-so-open XML to lock out competition in the office software space) is going to be taught [...]

Comment on Assemblymember Leno Continues the Fight by A Few Conflicts In A Longer Struggle « Opportunity Knocks

A Few Conflicts In A Longer Struggle « Opportunity Knocks — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:36:38 +0000

[...] an open standard file format for office documents. This year, they considered it, even though it died in committee. Perhaps next year, the state will adopt it, putting the interests of the state and its [...]