InfoWorld: Troublesome horizon (SSSCA & W3C)

Oct 15, 2001, 15:04 (18 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Russell C. Pavlicek)

"But why not just implement the controls under open source? How? Even if the government were to publish the code to do so, with open-source software someone could always edit the operating system source code so it does not call the controlling routines. This will obviously be illegal under the provisions of the new law.

So when you hear about open-source people objecting to the proposed W3C rules or ranting about the SSSCA legislation, do not assume they are merely leftist nutcases trying to subvert the rights of copyright owners. They are not. They are, however, fighting against proposals that may damage the structure of the Internet by crippling or destroying open-source software use.

It is one thing to protect the rights of copyright owners, but it is something else to make freedom illegal while doing so. There must be a better way."

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Related Stories:

• Advogato: Free Software Representatives Join W3C Patent Policy Board(Oct 14, 2001)
• Mozilla.org Response to the W3C Patent Policy Framework Working Draft (Oct 11, 2001)
• Red Hat: LEGISLATIVE ALERT: SSSCA - Security Systems Standards and Certification Act(Oct 10, 2001)
• Eric S. Raymond: Open Source Initiative's letter of comment on W3C's proposed RAND policy(Oct 10, 2001)
• CMP: Discussion: W3C and Patents (Oct 09, 2001)
• USENIX: Proposed Legislation Significantly Affecting Computer Profession (Oct 08, 2001)
• The Register: We'll fork the Web to keep it Free - Perens (Oct 04, 2001)
• NewsForge: Ignore SSSCA, risk becoming a 'federal felon, overnight'(Oct 03, 2001)
• LinuxPlanet: .comment: Bought and Paid For(Oct 03, 2001)
• Tonight Live: Disney SSSCA Boycott and How Starnix Is Kicking Microsoft in the Shin(Oct 03, 2001)