[Lac] Creative Commons Licensing for Developing Countries.

[Taran Rampersad]

Diego Saravia wrote:

> 
>  
>
>>Because it heightens awareness, and is also symptomatic of developed 
>>countries willingness to do something about the Digital Divide. 
>>    
>>
> 
>Digital divide is a poverty issue 
>The better way to do something about digital divide is fight against 
>poverty.
>
Digital Divide is not just a poverty issue. It's an information issue...
that's another reason why Free Software is so important. Wouldn't you
agree?

>>Explain. I'd love your input on this. If you can tell me how to do my 
>>profession better, I'm all ears. 
>>    
>>
> 
>I cant do that.  
>The fact that there are a lot of ways of doing things do not have any 
>relation with the better way for you. 
>  
>
Well, I'm forced to muddle through life and figure things out through
experience. Doing is more important than talking at times, this I know.

>>And this is my point, friend. However, you're stuck on one way, it seems. 
>> 
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>I was only asking what are the convenience points  in developing countries 
>CC, I do not say anything about another cc licencies or funcional work. 
>  
>
Hmm. Perhaps we are misunderstanding each other somewhere. It's hard
when different languages and cultures talk. When you say 'convenience
points', I think you mean what are the 'good points'? I will try to
answer this.

There are a lot of international organizations which are trying to share
information with developing countries, but writing a license that
doesn't shoot themselves in the foot appears to be difficult - and
costly. Lawyers are not cheap :) Free Software makes the sharing of
software fair for everyone involved, but sometimes with non-functional
works simply copyrighting them doesn't appear to be enough. So they hide
them from people, and charge money for them. Since everyone does this,
they have to do it so that they can compete - at least this is what they
think. Changing completely to Free Content scares people, just the same
as Free Software scares some people (notably our friends in Redmond,
Washington). But if everyone sticks their toes in the water with
developing countries, things get better for developing countries (like
*our countries*) while they experiment with the 'new' concepts. And if
it's comfortable, they will stick their leg in it, and if that's
comfortable, they will jump in.

I'm playful. I splash people sometimes when they come to the pool, but
there are certain people I do not splash, or am careful of splashing.
It's because it is more important that they come into the pool than me
having fun (which means I lose some of my fun, but the long term goal is
better).

So this particular license is actually a step for people who want to
help the developing world without losing an advantage in the developed
world. It's not a FDL, but it's a step in the right direction. So I
encourage it, and point them to the deeper end of the pool... playing in
it whenever I can so that they can see it's safe.

People are fragile when it comes to change, sometimes we must remember
that.

-- 
Taran Rampersad

cnd at knowprose.com

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