JohnF <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Well, software doesn't have to be free to protect users from > these kinds of problems, just open -- or visible -- source.
Well, if the source is visible, people can examine it and see where the problem is, but I think people should also be allowed fix problems (bugs and security holes) and should be allowed to make modifications to reduce pointless frustration. And when they do fix bugs, improve security, or improve the functionality, they should be allowed to publish their modifications so that their work can benefit everyone. Also, if the source is visible but users aren't allowed do anything interesting with it, it's possible that no one will bother to look at the code. > But, as I suppose the usual argument goes, legislating that > publicly available software must be open source might > have a chilling effect on developers which could outweigh any > perceived good. There's always some kind of tradeoff like > that, which can't be quantitatively predicted before the fact [...] > Commercial developers are probably a different > story. Agreed. Such legislation would have to be debated at length first. Software is certainly different from food in that individuals can mass produce software, but mass producing food is only done by companies. Giving liability to companies is usually reasonable because they have lawyers and cash, but giving liability to individuals requires much more care. I think a reasonable first step would be legislation saying that government bodies can only use software if they are free to view the source code, to make changes, and to make and distribute copies (at least internally). This should be required simply so that the government can be transparent and is always in contol of it's own actions. -- Ciarán O'Riordan, +32 477 36 44 19, http://ciaran.compsoc.com/ Support free software, join FSFE's Fellowship: http://fsfe.org Recent blog entries: http://fsfe.org/en/fellows/ciaran/ciaran_s_free_software_notes/using_latex_to_make_pdf_documents_with_japanese_characters http://fsfe.org/en/fellows/ciaran/ciaran_s_free_software_notes/links_sean_daly_kde_swpat_chessboxing http://fsfe.org/en/fellows/ciaran/ciaran_s_free_software_notes/links_india_pats_clipperz_freegis_rms_emacs http://fsfe.org/en/fellows/ciaran/ciaran_s_free_software_notes/using_and_writing_emacs_22_input_methods _______________________________________________ gnu-misc-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
