(OT) Re[2]: [ale] GAH

[Robert Reese]

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On 7/11/2004 at 10:06 AM Christopher R. Curzio wrote:

>You also can't take or give away the original copy of the constitution.
>Nor can you ask that it be photocopied and have the copy given to you. As
>a matter of fact, you're not even allowed to TOUCH it. I don't think you
>can even take photographs of it. You're only allowed to look at it through
>its case. That's some pretty strict RM, no? But you're free to purchase a
>copy in the gift shop. So why aren't you complaining about that too?
>
>Now that's not to say that e-book DRM is nearly as important as protecting
>the original copy of the constitution. The point is, restrictions are
>everywhere. It's just that some people choose to complain about only some
>of them for silly reasons. 

You are mistaken on many points.  The original Constitution is a singular
irreplaceable document that is also extrememly fragile, and those measures
are designed to protect it.  Yes, you can photograph it but only with the
flash OFF.  The reasoning is obvious for these protective measures. 
However, E-Books have no such fragility, nor is there a demonstrative
uniquity of electronic documents.  By the way, you are not restricted from
making copies of the gift-shop purchase either, though the cost of the copy
available at the gift-shop should not be profit-making either as it should
only be enough to cover just the production and distribution costs involved
for the purchase.  Other than a few hundredths of a cent for distribution,
what costs are involved with the production (paid for by tax dollars) and
the distribution (also paid for by tax dollars *and* also volunteer
mirrors) of an E-Book?  We all know the answer is *none*, of course.

You also need to keep in mind that the E-Book in question is a PUBLIC
DOCUMENT, both in content and in object.  The E-Book was created with
tax-payer dollars, and belongs to the government, which ironically enough
due to the Constitution, means it belongs to the people which in turn means
*us*.  There should be no charge whatsoever for the U.S. Government
produced E-Book, and absolutely no DRM attached to said E-Book.  One last
thing... DRM is suitable for copyrightable material.  There is no such
copyrighted material in an E-Book of the Constitution.

Cheers,
Robert Reese~

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"We shall soon be obliged to meet in cellars, or in darkened rooms with closed doors, and speak in whispers lest our next door neighbors should hear that freeborn citizens dare not speak in the open".
  - Emma Goldman, 1902
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