Re: [Fsfe-uk] Re: [discuss] Open source software News

[Chris Sherlock]

Sander Vesik wrote:
> Chris Sherlock wrote:
>
> > I suppose this seems like a fair enough answer... I guess you see 
> > software more as an infrastructure that the govt should maintain and 
> > develop. I'm still not so sure...
> >
> > What I *do* think, however, is that governments should make it 
> > compulsory for software companies (and peripheral companies, in 
> > particular!) to open their code. Do you know the number of times I've 
> > had to scrap or make do with 2nd-best because I couldn't see the 
> > source code of some crappy product???? :) I guess that's why I only 
> > run Linux now (especially now I've worked out CUPS and Samba).
>
> I don't agree with this - governemnts dictating things about software 
> and hardware have so far only given lots of negative results. The 
> goverment should require that things it buys have open interfaces (and 
> this applies to both hardware and software). 

Surely forcing the opening of code would give more reliable products! 
But I realise that what I'd like to see and do and what is actually 
practical are different things. I think I also want to see govts force 
the opening of products 'cause I like tinkering with source code :)

Open interfaces and standards that force compatibility are the next best 
option, I think. I think that organisations shouldn't be allowed to 
force you into using their application because they don't publish their 
APIs or explain how the file format works. I think they should 
definitely be made to give this information, or if they don't people 
should be allowed to work it out themselves (through whatever means they 
want) and then should be allowed to publish this information.

My limited understanding of the DMCA is that this isn't allowed and has 
the potential to put you in jail? I'm not a USian, btw, is this true?

> This gives you a good
> balance and keeps most of the lobbyists from paying attention and
> screewing things royaly up.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this. Could you clarify?

Chris