[FC-discuss] statement on freedom and network services

[Brian Rowe]

Point 1: yes endorse
I would support a qualified endorsement, I agree in theory with everything
except the user recommendations.  If we want to recruit new members we can
not rely on only using ethical systems.  If we only use open social
networking sites we are preaching to the choir.  We need to use our power as
users in the legacy systems to promote changes in those systems and to reach
out to people using those systems and let them know the problems.

Point 2: rewrite user portion
"Where it is possible, they should use Free Software equivalents that run on
their own computer."  This is near Luddite talk... It is almost always
possible to use an app on your own comp, but it is so inefficient.
Networked online apps are not inherently evil, should you back up your work
offline, yes.  Should you have alternative options and data portability,
yes.  You should fight to impove them. But you should not avoid them like
the plauge.

I would rewrite the user section two to say:

*Users* are encouraged to:

   - Consider carefully how they use software on someone else's computer.
   Where it is practical and efficient, they should use Free Software
   equivalents that run on their own computer. Services may have substantial
   benefits, but they can represent a loss of control for users and can
   introduce problems for freedom.
   - Look for network services that follow the guidelines listed above, so
   that users still have the freedom to modify or replicate the service without
   losing their own data.
   - Take precautions when using *any* online service and back up their data
   in case of problems or opportunities to migrate to more ethical
   alternatives.

Note 1: even an open service can crash losing all your data and
contributions
Note 2: the grammar on the statement appeared odd to me.  I am sure my
alternative has other grammar tweaks needed, feel free to send ideas to me
directly.

I will be posting these comments on the autonomo.us site and on FFIP's
endorsement of the statement


On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 9:06 AM, Nelson Pavlosky <nelson at freeculture.org>
wrote:

> Perhaps this is a statement that SFC should endorse?  With the
> appearance of identi.ca perhaps the time for free, open network services
> has come and the sun is setting on walled gardens ;-)
>
> http://autonomo.us/2008/07/franklin-street-statement/
>
> ~Nelson~
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss at freeculture.org
> http://freeculture.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>



-- 
Brian Rowe
Legal Intern
Creative Commons
brian at creativecommons.org
(206) 335-8577 (Cell)

Access To Justice Technology Principles
www.ATJWeb.org

Freedom for IP
www.FreedomforIP.org
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