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Frederick County Public Libraries - In Need of Free Software!
I was browsing my local library's online catalog today when, to my excitement, I saw that there are several downloadable offerings. :)
As I navigated towards them, I was horrified to discover that they require Windows Media Player. It goes on to say that due to licensing restrictions they don't work on an iPod... The ONLY way I can imagine that would be an issue is if those files were encumbered by restrictive Digital Rights Mutilation (DRM) that limits how users can enjoy their content.
Considering that the Frederick County Public Libraries receive government monies, I decided I'd submit to them a letter asking when they would offer online content to users of Free Software. Below is my actual letter.
When will the Frederick Public Library provide access to it's online material to users of Free Software operating systems such as GNU/Linux or the BSD operating systems? Information on the Free Software philosophy can be found here (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)
The downloadable content listed in the FCPL catalog requires Windows Media Player, which many people can not legally use because we do not agree to the restrictive license requirements of that application or the Windows operating systems required to install Windows Media Player. Certain formats, such as Theora (http://theora.org/theorafaq.html#10) and Vorbis (http://www.xiph.org/vorbis/) are usable by EVERYONE and are not restricted by unethical Digital Rights Mutilation (DRM). For more information on DRM and those who resist it please visit http://defectivebydesign.org/
Thank you,
Kevin Dean
As I navigated towards them, I was horrified to discover that they require Windows Media Player. It goes on to say that due to licensing restrictions they don't work on an iPod... The ONLY way I can imagine that would be an issue is if those files were encumbered by restrictive Digital Rights Mutilation (DRM) that limits how users can enjoy their content.
Considering that the Frederick County Public Libraries receive government monies, I decided I'd submit to them a letter asking when they would offer online content to users of Free Software. Below is my actual letter.
When will the Frederick Public Library provide access to it's online material to users of Free Software operating systems such as GNU/Linux or the BSD operating systems? Information on the Free Software philosophy can be found here (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)
The downloadable content listed in the FCPL catalog requires Windows Media Player, which many people can not legally use because we do not agree to the restrictive license requirements of that application or the Windows operating systems required to install Windows Media Player. Certain formats, such as Theora (http://theora.org/theorafaq.html#10) and Vorbis (http://www.xiph.org/vorbis/) are usable by EVERYONE and are not restricted by unethical Digital Rights Mutilation (DRM). For more information on DRM and those who resist it please visit http://defectivebydesign.org/
Thank you,
Kevin Dean
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