Lessig's "Creative Commons" @ The FAA

tramm writes "The FAA, working with the EAA have put together a proposal to release old type certificates and blueprints once the copyright holders no longer exist. Sort of like Abandonware for airplanes. This very closely resembles Lawrence Lessig's idea of a creative commons, into which source code would be escrowed. Once the copyright expired or became abandonded, the sources would be released. "This set of legal guidelines will help the FAA develop a set of procedures to legally release what had previously been unnecessarily protected as proprietary data.". Hopefully the Copyright office will take note of the success here, as well as the Supreme Court's hearing of Eldred v Reno."

Comments

Similar to code escrow

[gentlewizard]

Sounds like a good idea to me, sorta like software companies that put their source code into escrow so that if they go under, their customers can legally obtain it.

Start with NASA

[owlmeat]

I'd love to see acutual engineering documents and code for stuff like the Saturn V, the lunar module and the ground control computers

Re:Start with NASA

[WinPimp2K]

Actually, the designs for the rockets were PATENTED. The patents on the J5 (I think, it's been a long time - the engine used in the second and third stages of the Saturn V anyways) expired in the late 70's so those engine designs are fully in the public domain. Of course, given how the gubmint is getting about anything that might have "security" implications, it is entirely likely that Dan Goldin has had them retroactively classified before anyone going for the 'X' prize uses them in a manned ICBM.

Other than that, remember that we are talking about experimental aircraft - the FAA doesn't do a lot with them anyways.

Re:Start with NASA

[Caraig]

Unfortunately, you won't be able to. At least for the Saturn V.

Y'see, the blueprints and engineering docs for the Saturn V were stored on microfilm. Time passed and, unfortunately, the ability to build the Saturn V was lost -- financial reasons, mostly. The aerospace industry had been given the financial equivalent of 100cc's of adrenaline with JFK's "space race." By the time the Apollo program ended, we were already unable to build the Saturn V. (This is why NASA moved on to cheaper, unmanned launches and the Space Shuttle.)

If you really want them, though, I think we can work something out. Supposedly I live a few miles from the Saturn V's plans' final resting place. Legend has it that they are located somewhere in the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, New York City. This is probably incorrect, though. More likely, they were incinerated.

Some NASA code IS available! :)

[PaulBu]

check out http://www.openchannelsoftware.com/
(it was mentioned on /. some time ago). As far as I remember, it started when NASA decided to give some of its code to Open Source community.

Stuff like "An Advanced Engineering Model for the Prediction of Airframe Integrated Scramjet Cycle Performance". It's a pity I do not have too much time anymore to study all the programs available there... :)

And, of course, we all know that Beowulf started in NASA/JPL when Don worked there...

Paul B.

Re:What about the Bono act?

[Mahonrimoriancumer]

I would really doubt that a 3rd party could bring suit in a copyright case. After all, how were they damaged by the violation/infringement? Also, if the party being sued was found guilty, who would recieve the money from the judgement?

hold off on Creative Commons....

[EricEldred]

tramm is right in proposing that this abandonware project is similar to what has been discussed about the Creative Commons. But as one of the directors of the Commons, may I suggest we hold off much public discussion until the Commons is ready--maybe within a few weeks...

What this will bring to aviation.

[drink85cent]

Many of you have this all wrong.

This only really applies to homebuilders. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is out there to promote building of homebuilt aircraft. They want these documents out there in the open to promote homebuilding, not lets build such and such WWII aircraft and know how to build this jet.

Most of these aircraft, most likely are little single-engined aircraft that most people dont understand one from another. This is really only applicable to you if you want to BUILD it and you want the plans or want to do some sort of coversion and you need the FAA approved STC.

These plans and STCs are very expensive to get so people like to hold on to them and charge for their usage. SO when you cant find the person anymore, you're SOL.

Yes

[elfuq]

They are a fine organization that helps homebuilders of various unusual aircraft.

Ya see, if you want to get a new aircraft FAA approved, it costs millions of dollars and a couple of years of expensive testing. Until Cirrus Aviation got the SR200 certified in 2000, no one had got a new light General Aviation aircraft certified in years, everyone was just building them off the old type certificates.

But, if you build it yourself. (More than 50% of the effort) you can fly any weird-assed kind of airplane, with a very minimal level of certification.

Most homebuilders use kits, though theres still a lot of work to do to complete the aircraft, and qualify under the 50% rule.

The EAA exists to help these people.