Copyright vs. Community

Jadwisin, Poland. Sala Konferencyjna Nowa, Conference and Tourist Center http://www.owjadwisin.pl/eng.shtml , 05-140 SEROCK (+48 (22) 782 7508, +48 (22) 782 6541, <[email protected]>. The exact time and date of Richard Stallman's talk is yet to be determined. Copyright developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed to fit with the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing press. But the copyright system does not fit well with computer networks, and only draconian punishments can enforce it. The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public access to technology. But if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of copyright--to promote progress, for the benefit of the public--then we must make changes in the other direction. This speech will be part of the Konferencja Wikimedia Polska, 2009, which will be taking place from May 1st through May 3rd.