[OFF - TOPIC] Free Software vs. Piracy

When I saw an article called “Brasil pode ser punido por software livre” (Brazil might be punished because of Open Source), which was published in ‘Info Exame’ magazine, I got scared. According to the author, James Della Valle, “The International Intellectual Property Alliance could put Brazil in copyright’s blacklist because of the support given to open source and because of detected cases of piracy.”. I found this sentence very uncertain and decided to get better informed.

The document released by IIPA, which can be accessed here, works as a instruction guide to the United States Trade Representative, and describes the cases of piracy in many countries and creates categories, according to the “danger they might represent to capitalism” (I’m not being a radical, these are the actual words they use)

In the page 436 of the document, it’s possible to refute the sentence “…could put Brazil in copyright’s blacklist”. The truth is that in 21 years of existence of this list, Brazil has been honored with 20 mentions in the feared “Blacklist”.

Brazil has his own special chapter in the document (It starts at page 169, or you can read it here). There are 15 pages describing what there is of worse about piracy in the country. They mentioned laws, facts, statistics and countless argumentation that prove one thing we all know: piracy in Brazil is out of control.

I don’t want to be insensitive, but that does not worry me. Right now I want to understand the “…because of the support given to open source” thing. The only sentence that resembles it – vaguely, though – appears amongst a series of advice given in order to overcome piracy: “Avoid legislation on the mandatory use of open source software by government agencies and government controlled companies“. IIPA’s logic is that by taking these measures, the country limits competition and technologic production, once it automatically eliminates the possibility of making businesses with many companies, like, for example, Microsoft, conveniently based in the United States. I agree partially to this point, but in order to keep the insensitive moment up, I’ll stick to the article.

Summarizing what the author said, though replacing the lies for the truth, we have:

“The International Intellectual Property Alliance will add Brazil, for the twentieth first time, to the copyright’s blacklist because of detected cases of piracy.”

Yes, unfortunately my anger was in vain: There’s no link in this document between piracy and Open Source.

Learning of the day? Do not believe in everything you read!

This post is also available in: Portuguese (Brazil)