68 lines
2.4 KiB
HTML
68 lines
2.4 KiB
HTML
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<version>1</version>
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<title>WSIS - Civil Society Statement for WSIS Plenary September 23rd, 2003</title>
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<body>
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<center>
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<h2>Patents, Copyright, Trademarks (PCT) Working Group</h2>
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<h1>Civil Society Statement for WSIS Plenary September 23rd, 2003</h1>
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</center>
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<p><a href="/about/people/greve/">Georg Greve</a> speaking on behalf of the
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civil society patents, copyright and trademarks working group.</p>
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<p>Each generation of mankind is depending upon its predecessors to
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leave them with a livable, sustainable and stable environment. The
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environment we are discussing today is that of the information age and
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future generations will be looking at what we have achieved or not
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achieved here.</p>
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<p>To a large extent, this future rests on three columns. </p>
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<p>Science, to advance human knowledge, Law, to provide means of
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non-violent conflict resolution and Software, to enter and be part of
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the digital domain. All of these three are in imminent danger.</p>
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<p>When asked why he could see so far, Sir Isaac Newton replied that he
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was standing on the shoulders of giants. Imagine a world where those
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giants refuse to let him stand on their shoulders. Yet this is the
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direction that the access to information and knowledge section is
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taking. Access to information is how we climb upon the shoulders of
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the giants that were before us.</p>
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<p>Law is a tool with which we shape our society. Like any tool it can
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turn against its creators. By monopolising control over our common
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heritage as mankind, we give permission to deplete the intellectual
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and cultural grounds that future generations will need to build
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upon. A strong and healthy public domain of knowledge will be just as
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important to them as it was to us.</p>
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<p>Software is the medium of and structuring entity for the digital
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domain. The information age will rest upon it. Having been denounced
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as a technical development model, Free Software is much more than
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that. It is a paradigm that secures equal chances and freedom for
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governments, economy and civil society alike. It provides a truly
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sustainable model for all areas of society, bringing back competition
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and furthering innovation for a prosperous and inclusive information
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and knowledge society for all.</p>
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<p>Dear delegates, thank you for your attention.</p>
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