Re: [Advocate Play Ogg] Two thoughts: automated conversion, and radio4all.net.

[Karl Fogel]

Michael Fötsch <address@hidden> writes:
> - Upload bandwidth is usually only a fraction of download
> bandwidth. Furthermore, if transfer quotas are limited, who'd want to
> download a file, then upload it, then download it again in the
> converted format? What you'd really want is a site that asks you for a
> URL, the site downloads the original, and you just download the
> converted file. Such a site could cache converted files to speed up
> requests, BUT that's where your legal problems start.

Sure, ideally both ways of sending data would be available.

> - Whether or not you ask your users to agree to your Terms of Service,
> the lawyers will go after you anyway. That's the way they seem to
> understand their job. (And YouTube's ToS forbid illegal activity as
> well, don't they.)

Yeah, that's why I think only the FSF or a similar organization could
do this.  An individual might have the machines and the coding time,
but still probably wouldn't have the legal resources.

> - Wouldn't it be hypocritical to use non-free formats in this way?
> You'd outsource the dirty work of using proprietary/patented
> applications or formats, and you can still claim that your PC is "100%
> FSF-approved free software only". But not being able to watch that
> video that everyone talks about is one of the best incentives (for me,
> at least) to really start nagging web sites, the way you did with that
> radio station, or the way I tried with MIT OpenCourseWare (they
> answered, but they politely declined ;-).

Well, I think by far the most important priority is to make more files
available in free formats -- there are thousands of downloaders for
every one uploader.  Later, some of those audience members will become
uploaders too, and when they do, they'll be accustomed to thinking of
free formats as a natural way to distribute.  That's the main effect
to aim for, IMHO.

> P.S.: I really enjoy your web site,
> http://www.questioncopyright.org/. It was among the sites that really
> triggered my interest in free culture issues.

Thanks!  It's really encouraging to hear that.