[Libs-Or] Fwd: Could you forward this to the list?

[don warner saklad]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Richard Stallman <rms at gnu.org>
Date: Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Subject: Could you forward this to the list?
To: don warner saklad <don.saklad at gmail.com>


Would you be so kind as to forward this response to the list
libs-or-owner at listsmart.osl.state.or.us?  It won't accept
mail from me.


A recent message announced that it is possible to read
Overdrive ebooks with digital handcuffs
on Apple's recent user-restricting products.
This is done by installing a program which is available gratis
but clearly is not free (freedom-respecting) software.

When something is possible, the next question is whether
it's good or bad.  There are three reasons why this is not good.

* It is bad to use the iMoan or the iBad, because they subjugate
computer users as never before in a general purpose computer.  Apple
has the gall to impose its control even over what programs users can
install.

* The program recommended for this is a proprietary program:
it doesn't respect users' freedom.  The users don't control it;
it controls them.  (See fsf.org.)

* DRM, in Overdrive for example, is an attack on readers' freedom.  It
is something we should reject and resist, not facilitate.  For more
info about DRM, see DefectiveByDesign.org.

There are some things that can be done but shouldn't be,
and this is one of them.


--
Richard Stallman
President, Free Software Foundation
51 Franklin St
Boston MA 02110
USA
www.fsf.org, www.gnu.org