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Open Source Law

Russ Nelson writes "The U.S. Supreme Court just announced its refusal to review the 5th Circuit's en banc decision that there can be no copyright of privately authored laws offered to U.S. governmental bodies for adoption. The model law itself may be copyrighted, but once it's adopted, the law must be open source. The entire case is laid out on Peter Veeck's page." Slashdot touched on this before, but never really covered this dispute in depth. Here's a nice legal summary of the case.

4 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. What does this mean? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    the law must be open source.

    What does open source law mean?

    Does it mean that the law will be full of random zealots battling constantly over meningless tripe? That the law will have so many random variants on central issues or themes that it takes an encyclopedia to keep track of them? That the comments or documentation for layment to read and preuse are non-existant or completely useless? That its practitioners will be abusive and condescending to those not in their profession?

    If so, I submit that the law is already open sores.

  2. Slashdot Gay Conspiracy! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Following my work researching The Linux Gay Conspiracy, I am saddened to announced that I have discovered yet another orgy of perverted hetrophobic values. My claim lies with the Slashdot mangement.

    First, what kind of name is Slashdot? This is obviously a code word in the homosexual community for something perverted.
    Slashdot is an anagram of LAD SHOTS, which refers to Slashdot's pedophile agenda and T ASS HOLD, which refers to some gay sexual posistion that Michael and CmdrTaco enjoy.

    The 'editors' of Slashdot, as they call themselves, are homosexual swingers with cleverly disguised nicknames.

    CmdrTaco is the "head" honcho of Slashdot. Cmdr obviously refers to his desire to dominate over his gay partners, and Taco is obviously a sly reference to his colon.

    Michael Sims, who goes as 'michael' on Slashdot, is a well known thug and advancer of homosexual agenda. His name is an anagram of ASS CHIME MIL which obviously refers to his desire to flaunt his lower organ.

    Father Randy "Pudge" O'Day is Slashdot's Mac propagandist. Macintosh computers are well known as the Gay computer due to their homosexual colors and stylings. An email exchange between 'Pudge' and Apple HQ have been leaked by a former Apple employee who converted to hetrosexuality. These two emails (here and here) have been repeatedly posted on Slashdot, but are quickly censored by Slashdot moderators who do not want the public to know about its agenda.

    Simoniker, a recent addition to Slashdot has been uncovered as Mr. Goatse himself. Simoniker is a frequent poster to the Games section of Slashdot, obviously because he enjoies modded versions of Quake 3 and UT2K3 as a homosexual warrior who likes to 'overcome' his opponents with his exagerated sized love member. In addition, Simoniker is an anagram of KEN I RIM SO (Ken is probably his current boyfriend) and MEN I IRK SO (which refers to his frustratingly troubled gay relationships, probably due to his rather large asshole).

    This is only a rough draft and perliminary report. Please reply with additional information, contributions, and corrections. I will include any additional information and credit you with it in my further releases of this report.

  3. Public Domain != Open Source by John+Harrison · · Score: 0, Troll
    If it were, RMS could insist that we call the Constitution the GNU/Constitution instead.

    It seems odd that /.ers get so mad about intellectual property law and then abuse terms relating to it so badly. At least rant intelligently!

  4. Re:Here's an interesting quote by ddimas · · Score: 1, Troll

    It was rewarded. It's codes were enacted, any further reward is unethical and should be violently illeagal. If the law becomes private property, then it is time for armed rebellion, because that my dear friend is tyranny.