Dumbshit Dept.

Proof that Dvorak is a moron!

I've never thought much of Dvorak (of PC Magazine fame), but his latest article dispels any doubts that he is a total and utter moron:

Will someone explain to me the benefits of a trendy system developed by Professor Lawrence Lessig of Stanford? Dubbed Creative Commons, this system is some sort of secondary copyright license that, as far as I can tell, does absolutely nothing but threaten the already tenuous "fair use" provisos of existing copyright law. This is one of the dumbest initiatives ever put forth by the tech community. I mean seriously dumb. Eye-rolling dumb on the same scale as believing the Emperor is wearing fabulous new clothes.

I prefer to explain the Creative Commons using the GPL as an analogy -- the CC is to normal content, as the GPL is to source code. The GPL is a license that stems the tide of closed source projects and creates an environment where people can build on top of each others innovations. The same is true for the CC licenses -- the CC licenses give users more rights than the plain old copyright by itself. And this in turn allows a commons of creative innovation to occur -- thus the Creative Commons. In no way does this endanger fair use, if that concept still exists in the US. If anything, it moves us closer to reclaiming fair use.

Dvorak should shut up about things he doesn't understand. Its clear beyond a doubt that he doesn't comprehend the open source philosophy and the current copyright issues that face the modern world. And anyone who quotes Andrew Orlowski (from The Register) just digs his grave deeper. I can't wait for Joi to tear him a new a-hole.

Posted by Mayhem at July 19, 2005 04:31 PM