In an interview on news.com, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates described free culture advocates as a "modern-day sort of communists." Well now.
Q: "In recent years, there's been a lot of people clamoring to reform and restrict intellectual-property rights. It started out with just a few people, but now there are a bunch of advocates saying, 'We've got to look at patents, we've got to look at copyrights.' What's driving this, and do you think intellectual-property laws need to be reformed?
A: "No, I'd say that of the world's economies, there's more that believe in intellectual property today than ever. There are fewer communists in the world today than there were. There are some new modern-day sort of communists who want to get rid of the incentive for musicians and moviemakers and software makers under various guises. They don't think that those incentives should exist.

And this debate will always be there. I'd be the first to say that the patent system can always be tuned--including the U.S. patent system. There are some goals to cap some reform elements. But the idea that the United States has led in creating companies, creating jobs, because we've had the best intellectual-property system--there's no doubt about that in my mind, and when people say they want to be the most competitive economy, they've got to have the incentive system. Intellectual property is the incentive system for the products of the future." http://www.boingboing.net/2005/01/05/bill_gates_free_cult.html


Time to switch to Linux guys!

Major Threat

But Firefox beats the crap out of Internet Explorer. So where was your incentive system there, Mr. Gates?

Where is old Steve Allen when you need him? I'd like to see a "Meeting of Minds" between Bill Gates and Thomas Jefferson on the subject of invention and IP.

OK, I'm showing my age. All the readers under 40 will be going, "Who's Steve Allen?"

I'm with you.....Monopolies, no matter how spicific they are....Tend to produce poor product.

Microsoft is a perfect example. Since they have a lock on all the technologies surrounding their product line, they tend to not worry about advancement or true quality. The browser itself is the ideal example.

If Copyrights are shorter and have more specific criteria, DOS would be in the public domain. After all, did not MS remove the DOS requirement altogether in XP? And then there's the whole Disney practice of locking works in a safe for decades in order to refresh the market.

All this leads to a stagnated developement structure. After all, why be creative if I simply maintain status quo and get rich?

Much like all the noise about copyrights expiring in parts of Europe...So what? The worst thing that can happen is that they will have to offer something new that is superior to the something old. If they can't do that, then they deserve to become extinct. Simple economics in a really free market system

FYI -
Windows 2000 = Version 5.0
XP = Version 5.1

Biggest change....The color scheme (and of course, better DRM)

Doesn't sound like much of an advancement in technology, huh?

I don't know why suckers bought 2k or xp. I've still never seen the need.

I wouldn't put too much stock in anything that Bill Gates thinks. He's the same idiot who thinks XP is worth 100-200 dollars.

That mindset of Mr. Gates viz "free culture" software certainly smacks of Orwellianism, the ol' "War Is Peace / Freedom Is Slavery / Ignorance Is Strength" mantra. For doesn't the attitude of the multinational entertainment-media conglomerates towards whom Gates, H-P's Carly Fiorina and other techies are genuflecting qualify as somewhat Communist - as in Soviet? (As in: consumer products made not by laws of free market supply and demand but by the rigid, unbending dictates of certain entities, i.e. RIAA / MPAA / BSA; advocacy of intrusion into people's private lives; in some cases, seizing of people's private property for their own selfish purposes; and so on.)

As you indicate, multinational conglomerates flexing their financial muscles with the assistance of government bent on championing the rights of a few over against the rights of the majority.
That's the kind of America is see today, and it's an UGLY image, I can damn say.

I'm sick of big business.
I'm sick of the U.S. government.
I'm sick of politics.

Bill Gates calling people communists? The same guy that started his business by selling something he did not even possess? The same guy that thinks they own 100% of the market already because the 15% they DON'T own MUST be pirated versions of their own stuff anyway? The same guy that thinks there should be one software company to rule them all?

Communism seeks to remove the need of the "people" to make those agonizing choices of life by simply eliminating the alternatives.

This is also the core of Microsoft's business plan.

I don't blame bill gates, I don't even hate microsoft. I blame people and their own laziness. People like my co-worker, who is a computer field tech, who has only used windows and has a hard time with that. Bill took a free product and replaced commands like LS and put DIR in place. That's all he did, and people who wanted computers but didn't want to learn how to use them loved it. My co-worker has had 6 viruses in 1 year. (Blaster, Netsky, etc.) If you know how to use a computer (even one with winblows in it) you won't get hit by these. Yet, here they are and people are always surprised. I stopped fixing my co-worker's computer now, since she has another virus, a new one, which affects her boot sector. People, learn how to use your computers, just like a car you need to learn it, not just buy it.

You need to learn a car? Not if they put the gas pedal, brake, gear shift and steering wheel in the standard places. When the "check engine" light comes on, I drive it over to the mechanic.

In 20 years of owning a Mac -- no viruses, no DIR, no config files, no installed software that you cannot remove, didn't have to buy a new machine because of the Y2k "bug". Never seen a "blue screen of death". No bi-weekly patches. No security alerts.

I've been boycotting Microsoft since before I even cared who the RIAA was. This allows me to ignore 99% of the "urgent issues" that the rest of you have to waste time dealing with. Time is money. Working at a newspaper taught me that I couldn't afford the "savings" of using a Windows-based PC.

gdzirmann, you learned how to use a car sometime. Because I doubt you just sat in one and knew how and when to shift and what the signs meant. You learned before you started driving. It wasn't a good analagy, but it was the only one I had.

I guess as a Linux user I must be some sort of super-commie who must be immediately removed as an enemy of the state!

I wonder why he hasn't learnt the new terminology, though. Surely its "computer terrorists" not "computer communists" that would make the most "sense".

Azurre -- Not trying to flame you here, so don't misunderstand.

There is a difference between learning to drive a car and understanding exactly why it goes forward when you press the gas, not to mention the composition of the road itself. Being a Windows user seems, to me, to require a great deal of understanding of the internal geekery of the machine. It's like needing a mechanic's certification course before you can take the wheel because the car is definitely going to stop running soon.

Most of the Windows users I know have had to take their computers apart so often that they don't even bother putting the outside case back on anymore.

"Because I doubt you just sat in one and knew how and when to shift and what the signs meant."

The first time I drove a car it had an automatic transmission. I was 16. I could already read, and had been a passenger on many occasions. I knew what the signs meant.

May the blue screen of death haunt Bill Gates for the rest of his capitalist days. He's a good example of how power corrupts--the more he has, the more corrupt he gets.

Fuck capitalism. I'm sorry that's all I really have to say.

I agree with Mrnemo.

The irony is that nowadays Russia is probably more capitalist than the USA or UK!!!

However, we all know that there's no need to "run the risk" with file sharing of copyright music since most can be bought "probably legally" from Russia for a fraction of the cost of itunes etc.

Because of this I found myself becoming interested in Russia and the Russian language - probably because not being able to read the Cyrillic side of such websites pissed me off big time - but then I became engrossed in Russian popular music, it's about all I listen to these days because it's accomplished, fresh, innovative and all the good things that music used to be in the west before the format became dictated by balance sheet rather than talent or innovation.

Now, Russian music, is available in Russia, for pennies (or less) - according to RIAA the Russian music scene should be as dead as a dodo, well, wake up and smell the coffee guys, it's thriving and it's bloody brilliant! (of course nobody's making millions but then again they're all in it for the love of the job - they make a living, the bills get paid, and, like the rest of us, they work bloody hard for their cash) Maybe it IS a last legacy of communism but these guys are making a living and not a single "Eltonesque" tantrum in sight!

One person's music is another's boredom, but I do recommend that the brave and adventurous have a crack at http://pilot.cool.ru and once you've got used to the idea that you can't read the text (actually it's real fun to learn!) click (or, as the Russians might say "cluck with the mousy") on the strange CD cover to get to the website, click on the "albums" link - second item down, second column in - thoughtfully a mouse hover gives it in English! In the first chunk of links find "best of 1997-2004" (easy one that 'cos it's a western title) hit the first track (looks like POK but that's Cyrillic for Rock), go for the mp3 bit rather than the title or else you get the lyrics and that won't impress at all!

Now listen, then get curious, hit the back button, browse the listed CDs, even if you're hating the music you can't help but be amazed that the whole catalogue, ALL OF IT, is there to listen to or download, no premium tracks held back, no 30 second time limit, 128MP3 for free, want the decent stuff? buy the CD (how many times have we heard this on here?) - These guys have been around for a few years, they're giving their music away and yet they're still in business. From the main index page hit the photos option, 3rd column, 3rd row - click on links, look at the photos, it's real folks, musicians playing music for music lovers, not models making noises for fashion victims!!!

Pilot aren't unique (and by no means my favourite Russian band, though I do like their music), they've got a much better website than many Russian artists but over time more and more will be online giving away their music and still managing to not starve to death!

The nation that's more capitalist than the capitalists can actually see that there's money to be made by giving stuff away for free!!

All being well one day these guys will make some (much deserved) money from me, they're probably not going to be touring locally so it looks like I'm going to have to go three timezones east to hear them play!

and God willing, I will!!!

When Bill Gates dies someday, I hope someone makes some kind of "blue screen of death" joke at his funeral.

PipzUK - What a great post!

"cluck with the mousy"
"...looks like POK but that's Cyrillic for Rock..."

There's a song here. Maybe two. Or at least a band name.

"once you've got used to the idea that you can't read the text"

That feeling of instantly illiteracy can be a little disconcerting. All you do is watch for the stuff you recognize. It reminds me of a skit I saw on Saturday Night Live years ago, only it was a Spanish speaking deejay. Something like "Hola! Noches Sabado! Esto tiempo la musica el Paul McCartney."

"There are some new modern-day sort of communists who want to get rid of the incentive for musicians and moviemakers and software makers under various guises. They don't think that those incentives should exist."

sigh.

Bill, you ignorant slut...

We do NOT want to get rid of that one GOOD thing copyright was intended for.
The INCENTIVE... we "commies" for the most part believe that the creator of a work SHOULD benefit by copyright protection... the originally intended limited duration FOR THE CREATOR incentive. Copyright has been used and abused by folks with power (like YOU) who usurp it for corporate monopolistic dominance... the very thing that copyright laws were NOT intended for.

Shmoo, of Electric Gypsy
Support Local and Independent Music!

I love Voskresenie -- are they still recording?

"If Copyrights are shorter and have more specific criteria..."

Isn't this the heart of the matter? Mr. Gates, we don't really care that copyrights exist, and we DON'T "want to get rid of the incentive for musicians and moviemakers and software makers" like you claim. We WANT REASONABLE TERM LENGTHS for copyrights!! ALL COPYRIGHTS!!!

Under no circumstances should a copyright exist for 70 years after an author's death! It is pathetic that YOU, Mr. Gates, think that we "don't think that those incentives should exist." What a bunch of CRAP! We have no objection to copyrights in principle. We object to the concept that they will never end. A concept that is unconstitutional, but yet perpetuated by moronic comments like these.

I will never see the end of most copyrights in my lifetime. As such, these copyrights are therefore "endless" in my eyes, and are therefore unconstitutional. Of course, with the way Microsoft conducts it's business, it's obvious that YOU, Mr. Gates, don't believe in the constitution. Maybe you should reread it in full, to obtain a proper understanding of what our forefathers intended. Start here: http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/

No Mr. Gates, calling people that seek copyright reform communists is about as hypocritical as it gets. Take a long look in the mirror, Mr. Gates. I know if I did I wouldn't like what I saw.

"Bill Gates started his empire by selling IBM an operating system he didn't have the copyright for, and didn't represent the copyright owner." ~CodeWarrior

And billionaire Bill has the gall to call us names.
I could think of a few appropriate ones for HIM.

I call him a "capitolist"

Carla, I'd not heard of Âîñêðåñåíèå before but I have now, very nice indeed!!!! The last listing I have for them is 2003 which is recent enough to make me think that they're still on the go, since the name means "revival" if they're not currently recording no doubt they'll be back!!!!

Ha, that'll teach me for showing off! it does say "Voskresenie" if you switch the encoding to Windows Cyrillic!!!!

Glad I amused you George, it's a serious subject but that doesn't mean we can't have fun whilst discussing it! - I used to be in the "Ed Biz", I guess it still shows sometimes!!!!