US copyright lobby claims free software undermines respect for intellectual property

[J65nko]

From http://www.h-online.com/open/news/it...ty-940921.html

As part of a public consultation exercise, US industry association the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA), whose members include lobbying organisations such as the Business Software Alliance, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), has submitted recommendations to the US trade representative for revising the US' blacklist of copyright sinners.

The 498 page submission lists a number of countries in which, in the opinion of the IIPA, intellectual property rights are poorly enforceable or inadequately protected. The submission expressly calls for a number of countries to be placed under special observation – in part in response to their support for open source software.

[TerryP]

When you look at some of those members, it really is not a big surprise.

It [the FSF] thinks that Washington needs to stand up for the free market in accord with the democratic principles of the US constitution and stop using the 301 report as a "negotiating stick".

is probably the first thing those folks have ever said, that I actually agree with.