France Pushes to Ban Free Software

[skyman8081]

From FSF France

Friday November 18th, 2005, French Department of Culture. SNEP and SCPP have told Free Software authors: "You will be required to change your licenses." SACEM add: "You shall stop publishing free software," and warn they are ready "to sue free software authors who will keep on publishing source code" should the "VU/SACEM/BSA/FA Contents Department"[1] bill proposal pass in the Parliament.

It appears that publishing Free Software giving access to culture is about to become a counterfeiting criminal offence. Will SACEM sue France T

[Refalm]

It seems governments don't know what they want with software.
For example, the Dutch government wants open standards, but has just made a deal with Microsoft to provide them with software, which will cause a lock-in, possibly for the Dutch citizens too.

The European Parlement wants open standards too, yet it wants to push software patents. I believe it's misinformation and listening only to the big players in the field, like Adobe, Microsoft, etc.

[Dark_Me]

What do they mean by "culture"?
And how the hell did the persercuting lawyers not take one look at this proposal to ban free software and not laugh their asses off?

[Laukev7]

And how the hell did the persercuting lawyers not take one look at this proposal to ban free software and not laugh their asses off?

Because they were bribed?

[sledz41]

Thats terrible, I hope that doesn't go through.
Its banning innovation and creativity in the software field and locking in Microsoft to have full domination of software. It's as bad as banning free speech.

[Annorax]

Thats terrible, I hope that doesn't go through.
Its banning innovation and creativity in the software field and locking in Microsoft to have full domination of software. It's as bad as banning free speech.

It's worse than banning free speech. This is nothing less than digital newspeak. It seems like these asshole lawmakers are pushing this thing through before their constituents figure out what they're doing and kick their sorry asses out of office.

What I'd really like to know is how much they were paid to do this, and what the source of the money truly is.

[H_TeXMeX_H]

Most people don't believe me, but I think everyone gets what they deserve in the end. If people don't stand up for they believe in (free, open source software), they will get what they deserve ... being raped up the ass by M$ and other large companies.

P.S. To all those who want to blame an entire country for the actions of a corrupt government ... don't ... I don't know of any government on this planet that is not corrupt in some way. When you say "the French" or 'the Dutch" you are talking about the government, not the people.

Blaming the slaves for the master's cruelty is pure ignorance.

[Laukev7]

Back to topic, it's quite a surprising decision, since just a year before they were embracing open source.

[H_TeXMeX_H]

M$ must have done something in between then and now to "change their minds".

[dmcfarland]

I've had my fun. I feel sorry for the people of france if this goes through.

[dmcfarland]

Just for the record I am not a fucking anti semite. I dont hate jews. Whoever believes that I hate jews can go fuck themselves :fu:!!!!!!!!!!

[Jack2000]

the day this
comes true i am going to
bash people with a baseball bat
right on the street at random
1 -2 -3 -4 - bash- 1 -2 - 3 -4 -bash -1 -2 -3 -4 -...

[noob]

i'm starting my own open source country off the coast of blackpool, uk. microsoft is illigal and the government is an AMD pc running Fedora core 3.

[mobrien_12]

i'm starting my own open source country off the coast of blackpool, uk. microsoft is illigal and the government is an AMD pc running Fedora core 3.

Taxes?

[Dark_Me]

Nah, let people build their own roads, hospitals and firestations.