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I think it's fine, but I also think some middleground has to be taken so that we aren't slowly tied into a "ecosystem."

The example I like is Netflix on Linux. Now, boredom will find a way - and I use Wine and FireFox - but, does it really have to be like that?

I understand Linux is (without looking it up) something like 1% of the desktop market. But really... why should that matter? I know, business..but it's a consumer product.

When I'm trying to look through Netflix's website to see what's supported, all I can find is them trying to sell me proprietary devices. I don't mind so much, because I still like Netflix.



It comes down to cost.

It's cheaper for Netflix to have you use their box than it is for them to develop & support a Linux client for the relatively small user base.

Licensing restrictions and other politics likely prevent them from accepting open source clients, even if they wanted to.


GNU/Linux users are not in their business interests. And you can't fix that problem because the software is proprietary. The only acceptable option is to stop using Netflix.


Okay - I understand. And use what, though? Pirate Bay? Maybe launch a startup that has only public-domain videos to start?

There has to be a good solution.


> And use what, though? Pirate Bay?

I know of no place to legally purchase DRM free content that you would find on Netflix. It's a sorry state to be in.

> Maybe launch a startup that has only public-domain videos to start?

See: http://gondwanaland.com/mlog/2013/05/03/a-kill-hollyweb-plan...

Feel free to take the idea and run with it.

> There has to be a good solution.

I think you or I or someone else needs to make the solution. Though the problem is not simply technical. It's social and political, too.


I agree with you. I'd love to be a part of a solution, but it would take some serious commitment and big-backing. At least, as you say, on a social level - through HN and similar communities.


Public domain does not exist anymore.

There is a good solution, and it'll solve several other problems (some way more important than copyrights). I just don't know how to implement it - does anybody have any idea that does not resemble Ucrania?


I'm sorry, probably my fault, but I don't follow?

Public domain does exist: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_in_the_public_dom...

Or do you mean something else?


If you look closer at that list, the most recent film to enter the public domain was produced in 1968. The last time a film entered the public domain (known at least) was in 1991. And the overwhelming reason any work actually entered the public domain was that they failed to renew the copyright (which implies they could still not be in the public domain if the creators were more on top of their copyright situation).

I think what the GP meant with "public domain does not exist anymore" is that it is effectively is no longer relevant.


He means no more works will ever be added to the public domain. He's right as far as I can tell.




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