[geo-discuss] [rms at gnu.org: A suggestion for publicgeodata.org]

[Benjamin Henrion]

----- Forwarded message from Richard Stallman <rms at gnu.org> -----

From: Richard Stallman <rms at gnu.org>
Reply-To: rms at gnu.org
To: bh at udev.org
Subject: A suggestion for publicgeodata.org
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:25:35 -0400
Message-Id: <E1FT14x-0006nZ-42 at fencepost.gnu.org>

I just arranged to link to publicgeodata.org, since I support the
campaign.  Thank you for launching it.  But I would like to suggest a
change in the text now visible on the home page.

One of the news items says someone is unhappy with the "intellectual
property" clauses.  That term is propaganda, very effective propaganda,
for the other side, so any use of it works against our side.  See
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.xhtml for explanation of why.

I was unable to view the PDF file this refers to; gv could not display
it.  You might want to convert it so everyone can actually view it.
But I would guess that that document uses the term "intellectual
property" itself.

If it does, I think it is important to preface the document with an
explanation of the bias and confusion in the term.  Perhaps by making
the link point to a small HTML page, which would explain this and then
link to the document itself.  It could also link to
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.xhtml.

When documents that we oppose use the term "intellectual property",
the confusion of that term usually relates directly to harmful or
mistaken conclusions of the document.  That might be the case here,
and a couple of sentences of explanation of the relationship could
help people understand what's wrong with the document, while it also
helps them understand what's wrong with "intellectual property".

Please consider this suggestion--I think it is important for long-term
victory, in this and many related issues, to reject the bias and
confusion that the term "intellectual property" spreads.  It's not for
nothing that our enemies like to use it!

----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
Benjamin Henrion <bh at udev.org>
http://bh.udev.org
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