Don,

What's your understanding of the connection between open-source encryption 
algorithms and SOPA/PIPA?  Where is there more information available?

Are you talking about the encryption methods themselves or the *use* of 
encryption in support of piracy.  Those are different.

With regard to encryption software at Apache, there are existing provisions by 
which encryption in ASF releases are registered with the US Government.  The 
methods being provided in open-source is part of what makes them permissible.

Also, the *current* OpenOffice.org and LibreOffice releases incorporate 
open-source encryption methods.  Apache OpenOffice developer snapshots do as 
well (though there may be some short-term impact with the removal of 
dependencies on libraries whose licenses are incompatible with ALv2).  

 - Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Whytock [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 09:56
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: 18 Jan 2012: SOPA and PIPA Protest Banner

This showed up on Yahoo today...

http://news.yahoo.com/wikipedia-editors-sites-blackout-120914984.html

Apparently some feel that Wikipedia shouldn't take any political
stands at all...that it sets a bad precedent and potentially damages
its reputation.  Me, I think Wikipedia isn't taking a political stand
as much as a personal one, since the legislation affects Wikipedia
directly.  But perceptions are subjective.

I think Apache in general, and perhaps AOO in particular, could also
take a personal stand.  After all, if I'm reading the EFF analysis
correctly, one good open-source encryption implementation could get
Apache shut down.  Weren't y'all discussing encryption standards and
implementations here a few months ago?

Don

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