[pp.int.general] free software video streaming

[illunatic at greenpirate.org]

Please add to, remove, edit, hack the following for your own purpose.

Two separate issues have been muddled together in this discussion. The  
functions of 1 and 2 below may operate independently of one another.  
Combined, these two issues create a third criteria for information  
distribution.

1. Operating within the scope of content, licensing must be used which  
does not place restrictions on accessing, using or distributing the  
content if it is to be considered ?open content?.

2. Operating within the scope of  media, the audience must be able to  
access content without using non-free software to consider the medium  
to be ?free?.

3. ?Open information? is data that functions as completely open and  
freely accessible within the scope of both content licensing and  
software licensing. Open content licensing keeps content distribution  
legal. Being accessible by the use of free media software, without  
dependency upon non-free software, makes free delivery of content legal.

Consider the following PHP script to determine if information meets  
the criteria of ?open information?: http://pastebay.net/1183708

The parameters for is_open_info() are as follows:
?$content? may be anything.
?$contentLicense? must be ?open?.
?$contentMedium? must be ?free?.

###################### Pirate Discussion ########################
Questioning whether your party will commit to a strategy of  
exclusively releasing open information may be worthwhile at your next  
party meeting.  What is the Pirate Party strategy to be  applied to  
how content is officially distributed by PP?

There are a few combinations of strategies to choose from, so here are  
some questions grouped by their related scope of operation to help  
jumpstart your discussion.

Will all content distributed by a Pirate Party be available using open  
content licensing?
Will all content distributed by a Pirate Party be available using open  
content licensing exclusively ?
Will content that is subject to licensing restrictions such as  
copyright be distributed by a Pirate Party?

Will content distributed by a Pirate Party be accessible by free media?
Will content distributed by a Pirate Party be released exclusively in  
free media formats?
Will content distributed by a Pirate Party be released on all forms of media?

Will content distributed by a Pirate Party be released exclusively as  
open information which meets both open licensing and free  
accessibility requirements?

###################### Porting the User to Open Information  
########################

This part is based more of a personal attempt to find a reason to  
address these issues in the first place.

Objective: Fuel the demand for open information by promoting open  
content and open media. Expose the user to open information with the  
presumption that this will lead to a higher demand for open  
information which will be met with the increased production and  
availability of open information.

A Few Strategies to Consider:
Exclusively release popular or high demand content that meets the open  
information criteria of being both open licensed content and  
accessible without the requirement of non-free software.  The  
information is open. Demand for open information increases relative to  
the demand for the available content. Content is king when it comes to  
attracting users.

Release popular or high demand content subject to license restrictions  
via open media to incite users to use open media. The information is  
not open. Content restrictions are not addressed, but demand for open  
media is increased.

Release popular or high demand content with open licensing via media  
that requires non-free software. The information is not open. Media  
restrictions are not addressed, but demand for open content increases.

Whether you feel it is more important for your party to lead by  
example xor more important to propagate a message should weigh heavily  
in choosing your strategy. Good luck.

Ryan F. Smith
illunatic at greenpirate.org
Unaffiliated Content User