Original date: Sun Apr 25 22:30:17 EST 2004

I have just read and signed the online petition: "Linux/Open Source Against US-AU FTA Intellectual Property Clauses" petition at PetitionOnline.com.

This is just my way of saying, "Dear George, we don't want your DMCA, we don't want your software patents, and we don't want our innovation stifled."  What would the world become if only patent holders could develop software?  Read more at

There are a lot of good reasons not to support Amazon.com, including that they have filed frivolous software patents. Read about some of them at the old NoAmazon.com. Please consider supporting one of Amazon's competitors if you buy items online. I personally have found Barnes and Noble's site very easy to use, and given that t

DeCSS is a piece of free software that provides decryption of DVD video.  This is an essential piece of software for users of Linux and other free software operating systems to watch DVDs.  In the United States, the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) has been used against this software and thus unfairly monopolise DVD reading software and limit competition, and new laws may be coming into effect in Australia soon which will import this law into our country.

Software patents will one day mean the death of the computer industry. See this site for more information.

I'm not normally one for limiting free speech, since it has so many potential risks, but this is one exception. (This link is not recommeneded for minors, or adults with weak stomachs.)