FTA (was: Re: [plug] xbox)

[Harry]

On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 09:52:00 +0800 (WST) Matt Kemner <zombie at penguincare.com.au> wrote:

> Hi Adrian
> 
> On Wed, 3 Mar 2004, quoth Adrian Woodley:
> 
> > 	I'm chasing anyone who had anything to do with the setup of plug's
> > xbox.
> 
> LinuxIT supplied the X-box, Frank Guidara supplied the mod chip and
> organised to get it flashed with the cromwell firmware, Harry McNally
> showed off his soldering skills and soldered the modchip to the xbox
> and I did the Debian install.

Actually, said modification, although of noble purpose will come under the
illegal circumvention provisions of the DMCA as we proceed down the FTA route.

Jeremy pointed this out in the First Wednesday talk (co-sponsored by SLPWA)
last night. I'm drafting a letter to CC around all political flavours to
explain that our ability to reverse engineer systems in Australia allows
locally produced technology to be compatible with existing systems. Blind
FTA obedience will dismantle that.

I'm skeptical of the argument that USA companies will flock to buy our
products and services. Instead the DMCA type legislation removes the part
of the development cycle that we already acknowledge that we are good at;
creative new science and technologies. IT and technology is the fall guy
not sugar growers. 

Fortunately, acceptance of the FTA is a bit of an honour systems where
each country modifies or introduces legislation to fiddle the legal
landscape to match the spirit of the FTA.

There are some loopholes so it is still possible that criticism of the
IP provisions will result in "public interest" exceptions to the banning
of all circumvention devices.

The conversation at the meeting moved to whether any laws of this type
are meaningless in the face of civil disobedience (or just ignoring the
whole stupid law) but a far more useful approach is to work towards
not getting stupid laws in the first place. Consider writing your own
letter. 

Last night was a vocal, lively, and informative talk and I wonder whether
Craig Ab. might consider Jeremy to talk at PLUG about the FTA provisions
and their implications (if he's willing).

cu
Harry

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