FREE MICKEY

Not only is the message conveyed in a mere second, it speaks volumes in only two words. Our winner is Frequency451 who noticed it from one of Larry Lessig’s presentations.

The most important part of the contest was to create something that would spark a deeper interest in a more lengthy conversation. The issue is deeper than any bumper-sticker motto could possible explain, but we only have ‘three seconds’ to explain it.

I believe that “Free Mickey” does that. And that is backed up in the contest forum. It was the entry that created the most debate among all entries. What other criteria could there be? That was exactly the point.

A bonus point also goes to Frequency451 for choosing a winner that is both a derivative work and from the public domain. No doubt that Lessig created his presentation with much influence from the Eldred v. Ashcroft case he’s working on which has a working motto of “free the mouse”. Hence “FREE MICKEY” would be a derivative work. I’d also assume that Mr. Lessig would place his presentations in the public domain since that is the point of his Creative Commmons work.

Is it better that the current “free the mouse” meme? No. But, as we found, one may be better than another depending on who your audience is. “free the mouse” with people who can identify with technology and “Free Mickey” with those who’d identify with the cute little guy rather than an input device.

Frequency451: contact me directly through OSDir.com. I’ll verify you through O’Reilly.

Oh yeah, what are you gonna do about it? C’mon, really? How about donating to EFF.org?