The Free Software Foundation is planning to launch a large-scale campaign against digital rights management later this year.
Peter Brown, the executive director of the Free Software Foundation, said in an interview published on Thursday, that the FSF will target both manufacturers and consumers in a campaign that will start when the second draft of GPL 3 is released in June.
"We haven't got the campaign organised yet, but we're going to be employing a professional campaigner," he said. "There is a real potential for people power, whether it's boycotting devices, or picketing certain places — there are a lot of lovely targets out there. We have thousands and thousands of free software supporters out there and they will be deeply involved in the campaign."
Earlier this year, the FSF revealed that GPL 3 will include provisions against DRM.
Brown hopes people will eventually understand the need for free software, as much as they accept the need to protect the environment or have an ethical monetary policy.
"When you ask people about free software they should instinctively believe in free software. Just like people say 'I recycle my cans,' but don't understand the process behind it, you don't need to have read the GPL, or been a programmer to understand that a computer should be under your control. The typical computer user can't change the software, but then again my mum can't change what the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank is doing, but these issues still matter to her," Brown said.
The full interview with Brown can be read here. As well as discussing the FSF's upcoming campaign against DRM, he explains how he was first exposed to the issue of software freedom when writing code for his Sinclair ZX-81, and discusses how the FSF is run and funded.
Talkback
I'm hate DRM.And I will do at my best so these DRM crap makers about to fail!Do they want to manage MY rights while IT IS I AM WHO PAYS MONEY for their products?They are MAD!I'm not willing to buy crap with DRM and I'm offering everybody to boycott DRM solutions at your best.
Now there is a story...
I'd bought Nokia 6681 smart phone.And after some time of use I'd discovered the following: PHONE BLOCKS FILE SENDING VIA BLUETOOTH for *.mid *.jar and *.sis files.Can you imagine this?And there is NO information on usual Nokia site(for customers) like "hey guys, this phone will be unable to send *.mid *.jar *.sis files via Bluetooth, e-mail, etc .. because we thinking you're criminal, guilty by default and should be named pirate!".Oh nooo... there is some mumblings on official site that phone supports "OMA DRM 1.0" or smth like this.I'm pretty sure nobody of customers is aware what it it.After seeking a while I found description of restrictions but on Nokia site FOR DEVELOPERS.No customers will read this... so anyone will discover "surprise" only when he has bough the phone.Now imagine my feelings when I'm paying near $500 for device just to learn that manufacturer of device got MAD ENOUGH to count me criminal and pirate "by default" even ignoring fact that it is I AM who pays them moneys for the device and that "innocent unless proven guilty" principle used even in courts!
Let's say: these bastards CRIPPLED MY RIGHTS FOR MY MONEYS!
- I do like GPLed or freeware software.I dislike to bother myself buying apps.So I'm using free and GPLed apps (J2ME and Symbian) and happy with it.Now, what if I'll try to send something?For example, Jimm, great ICQ client written on J2ME under GPL?This is .jar file!Or great Symbian Ogg Player which is GPLed too? (it it .sis file).Yeah, DRM system will not allow to send these files too!But license of these apps DOES ALLOWS me to distribute them!!!So my rights are crippled %E
- Now imagine I'd composed some midi file.Why I can't send it to others?Looks like answer looks like "because we thinking you're f%%king pirate and criminal, idiot!We will not bother proving this in court but instead will implement DRM.Thank you for paying moneys for it, now go away, do not bother us and eat this shit yourself".