Its not your place... (Score 1)

Its not your place to dictate to Metallica or anyone else how they should run their 'art'?

We have seen in the past week one or two cases where the conditions of GPL license were not upheld. In response the offenders were dragged over hot coals because they did not respect the copyleft agreement.

Now however, Metallic tries to uphold its copyrights on their music, and you are balking at the fact? It seems that we are only concerned about copyright/left when it is to our advantage?

'but they're also putting a big chill on the very notion of free software, open source, and the free movement of information and ideas on the Net'

Ummmmmm, sorry, are you saying that Open Source, and free software is so weak that something that doesn't even directly effect it would crumble it to the ground, or are you overdramatizing for effect? How would this prevent people writing Linux, Gnome or KDE. I don't think free movement of information and ideas on the net could be stretched to cover stealing.

' whether conventional notions of copyright can still work in an environment increasingly influenced by the open-source ethic'

They can 'work' online as much as they can in the real world. The laws haven't changed, its just that the distribution method is much more accessable to anyone. Thats like saying if I could hire a hit-man online, would the laws against murder 'work' within the internet environment. Its not a case of laws 'working' its a case of them being much easier to break online.

My thoughts are that while Metallica may be loaded, they still cannot be denied their legal rights. While it does seem like they are making a fast buck, there is also principle. As for those who would scoff at that idea, think back to GPL violations. There was no 'fast buck' to be made then, only principle. However, I think that attacking Napster is only as good as attacking audio tape, or CDRW manufacturers.