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Two Bits - The Cultural Significance of Free Software

bjg

Mittwoch, 27.August 2008

about: book , review

I have recently finished reading the book "Two Bits - The Cultural Significance of Free Software" by Christopher M. Kelty, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Rice University.

In summary, the book examines the development of the free software movement from an anthropological point of view (it is based on research work done as part of the authors PhD thesis).

The author identifies some interesting parallels between different endeavours involving freedom and the creation of information infrastructure, such as the development of internet protocols and free textbooks.

The website for the book is http://twobits.net/

It is published under the CC BY-NC-SA license.

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The Free Software Commies contd.

bjg

Montag, 20.Juni 2005

Following Karsten's posting I had a look at the background of Thomas Giovanetti, president of the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI).

Reading his blog, it turns out that far from being the staunch defender of "intellectual property" he claims to be, he is in fact a self-confessed "pirate"... here he is talking about the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: [Gioblog, May 10, 2005] Anyway, this NPR station was playing the first run of the BBC radio series [Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy], and it was the wackiest thing I had ever heard. I started recording the audio off of the radio so I could listen back again...

Recording off the radio... surely, not!

Everyone knows that BBC programmes are not public domain, and copying them is illegal. Isn't it the same as going into a store and taking the cassettes without paying?!?

I am shocked.

Here is the permalink to his blog.

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