US to require IE for Copyright Office Website

[Brunellus]

According to Slashdot, the U.S. Copyright Office is proposing an Internet Explorer-only website (http://slashdot.org/articles/05/08/15/1150229.shtml?tid=103&tid=1)for the preregistration of copyright claims.

Well-established, generally-agreed standards for Web content creation exist. The Federal Government should not be in the business of ratifying Microsoft's proprietary (and unsecure) ActiveX protocols. Moreover, the Federal Government should not be in the business of excluding users on the basis of their web browser.

Take action today. Tell the Copyright Office to open their proposed website to standards-compliant browsers (http://www.copyright.gov/help/) For the ineloquent, the slashdot poster has helpfully provided a sample letter (http://nsk.wikinerds.org/blog/?p=207).

Promiscuously crossposted.

[autocrosser]

I read this post & at once went to the site to post my letter--I urge everyone to do the same--we can't allow Microsloth to win any battles!!!

My letter modified from the sample---:)

I read a proposed policy with title “Preregistration of Certain Unpublished Copyright Claims” which asks the public to inform you whether or not we would have any problem if we were required to use the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser for preregistering a work.

Below you can read my personal opinion and feedback on this issue.

I have no access to Microsoft Internet Explorer because I use the Ubuntu Linux operating system, which ships with the following Web browsers: Konqueror, Mozilla Suite, Mozilla Firefox, Galleon, Epiphany, Opera, Links, and Lynx. These are the most common Web browsers in operating systems based on GNU/Linux, and I personally usually use Firefox, which is compatible with most Web standards set by W3C, including XHTML and CSS.

Microsoft Internet Explorer uses proprietary technology, such as ActiveX, which other Web browsers usually do not support. As a result, I have great difficulty navigating websites that use ActiveX.

As a Website Designer, I know that it is possible to design a website accessible with any modern Web browser, by using Web standards such as XHTML and CSS, and - whenever interactivity is needed - ECMAScript and Java applets (which can run on most operating systems).

Requiring users to use a particular Web browser causes disruption, especially for Apple Macintosh and GNU/Linux or BSD operating systems users, who often have no access to Microsoft Windows and may have never used Microsoft Internet Explorer (which only runs on Microsoft Windows) before.

Please consider the difficulties of non-Microsoft operating system users and try to provide a standards-oriented Web design, which would make their life much easier.

In addition, It is well known that IE is the most insecure browser currently in use--for a time all computer users were recomended to use anything else--I would not submit important data using IE for any reason.

Thank you,

[BWF89]

Your 4 days late:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=56179&highlight=Morons+full+glory

EDIT: Your post has more info and a petition. Sorry for the above post. I just read about the US Copyright Office and IE only and I posted the link to the old thread.

I sent the Copyright office a letter asking them not to make their site depend on proprietary standards.

[Brunellus]

Your 4 days late:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=56179&highlight=Morons+full+glory
my bad.

[BWF89]

Everyone on these forums should send a letter to the US Copyright Office and ask them not to make their website IE only.