Brazil Reshapes Debate on Intellectual Property

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=ourWorldNews&storyID=7512457

SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil's president often gets criticized by his old leftist friends for being conservative at home. But globally he has reshaped the debate on intellectual property rights to reflect the needs of poor nations.

In two years, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has forced the United Nations to change its global patent system, irked Microsoft Corp. by scorning its proprietary software, and annoyed recording studios by putting the music of his dreadlocked culture minister online for free.

This year, the government will help 1 million middle-class families buy computers loaded with open-source software, which is developed collectively. It also will open 1,000 centers with free Internet access, running free software, in poor neighborhoods.

Lula has accelerated a movement started by his predecessor, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who pressured big drug companies to cut prices in the late 1990s after threatening to break patents on anti-AIDS cocktails.

More at link.

[tigereye]

1. wish we had a little more of that open-minded thinking here!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. But but but Jack Valenti has to buy his 873,465th yatch! THIEVES!!!! (nt)