No, Everyone Does NOT Own the Software
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| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| dcparris Jan 31, 2007 2:57 PM EDT |
From the article: "Everybody owns it and it can be shared." The last part is true - it can be shared. The fact, however, is that the authors of the code own the rights to the code. I own nothing whatsoever of the Linux kernel or GCC or KDE or EMACS, etc. I only own the rights to CHADDB and "Penguin in the Pew". I think it's wrong to suggest that everyone owns the code when that is not the case. It is as much a misrepresentation of what FOSS is as calling it "unconstitutional", even if the misrepresentation is less onerous. |
| jsusanka Jan 31, 2007 3:56 PM EDT |
""The unfortunate thing is that the whole third world, including almost all of Africa, is being forced to use Microsoft products, through the pretext of trade treaties like the WIPO and the WTO", Sukumaran said." this is the statement I have problems with. says a lot about a company that has to force countries through governments to use their software. |
| dcparris Jan 31, 2007 3:57 PM EDT |
I would like to know how that works. How are countries being forced to use MS software? |
| hiohoaus Jan 31, 2007 5:06 PM EDT |
dcparris: MS must despise OpenOffice, since MS-Office was one of the last general excuses for people sticking with Windows. An array of lock-in tactics like that (and changing the way workgroups interact, and stuff like that) help to jam people with either Windows or everything else. Which is just fine now, as "everything else" becomes increasingly feasible. That's why we'll see an Office Vista soon, with a proprietary default DRM system, to get people jammed into using MS-Office again. I'm hoping that Office Vista will read older Office formats, so people can still read my OpenOffice SaveAs Ms-Word-alike documents. |
| jimf Jan 31, 2007 5:26 PM EDT |
MS the 'monopolist', I'll buy that, and an unethical Corporate presence to boot. I' sure that MS is guilty of applying undue pressure where ever and when ever they can. But 'Imperialistic'? Sounds like African Socialist rhetoric to me. |
| Rascalson Feb 01, 2007 4:31 AM EDT |
Microsoft is very imperialistic in a purely business sense. |
| jimf Feb 01, 2007 4:43 AM EDT |
> Microsoft is very imperialistic in a purely business sense. More like 'thuggish' ;-) |
| Abe Feb 01, 2007 4:48 AM EDT |
Quoting:I think it's wrong to suggest that everyone owns the code when that is not the case.Don, I don't think they meant "own" in the legal sence. It is obvious that each piece of code has Copyright holders. I think they are referring to the Freedoms of dowload, distribute, use, modify, etc... which you can NOT even get close to when one purchases MS products. I think "own it" he means once you have it, no one can take it away from you. Then again, you could be right and they are under the mis-conception that, since it is free (as in beer), they can own it. |
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