Free as in beer

A few weeks ago I spent a most pleasant Sunday evening in a Dublin bar called Solas. Myself and my friends were enjoying the free WiFi and the excellent range of cocktails and beers on offer.

The soundtrack for our evening of tippling was also very enjoyable. The DJ played a great mix of indie music.

At the end of the evening, everyone in the bar was given a free CD. The CD was a compilation of 18 tracks that the DJ had played over the course of the evening. Every one of the songs had been legally downloaded for free over the internet.

Non-commercial use of works that artists have provided while maintaining their intellectual property rights? That’s just the kind of pinko commie activity that really annoys Bill Gates:

"There are some new modern-day sort of communists who want to get rid of the incentive for musicians and moviemakers and software makers under various guises."

He must be really ticked off with all the free downloads available at Amazon.com. That red menace, Jeff Bezos is allowing artists to give away their songs without any kind of DRM whatsoever. It’s downright un-American, I tell ya.

Have you published a response to this? :

Previously on this day

16 years ago I wrote And they said it wouldn't last...

Jessica and I yesterday celebrated four years of marriage.

17 years ago I wrote Home again

I’m back from Ireland.

18 years ago I wrote iPhoto

I’m back in Arizona after a pleasantly uneventful Alaska Airlines flight.