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Build Your Own Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Posted by michael on from the puts-other-build-your-own-stories-to-shame dept.

I don't want to spen writes "For all you fans of nanotech out there, a friend just posted me a link to instructions for building a scanning tunnelling microscope, from the University of Muenster. Interestingly, their licensing terms sound open source-ish to me: '(... We grant everybody the right to construct the microscope using the here-published design for private or educational purposes. On these web pages all necessary diagrams, drawings, material descriptions and software-source-codes are published for free access. While granting the right to build the microscope we make it mandatory that new developments, improvements or other applications of our design are also made openly available for private or educational purposes...)'"

3 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. a free slot for ISA cards by frovingslosh · · Score: 3, Insightful
    the measurement computer must have a free slot for ISA cards.

    Well, I still have this covered, but not many of my friends do.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  2. Re:They would have a hard time enforcing it by fireman+sam · · Score: 2, Insightful

    But isn't this just the same as if I went to sourceforge / freshmeat (whatever) and downloaded a GPL'd application. I can get the source without going through a click through license. I can also compile the source without seeing any contracts.

    By your logic I can do anything I want because I didn't explicitly agree to the GPL and never signed anything that stated I would not use the software if I didn't agree to the GPL.

    --
    it is only after a long journey that you know the strength of the horse.
  3. Re:It's a stupid license anyways by Xzzy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Talk about a classic example of looking a gift horse in the mouth.

    You're getting this information for FREE. It hurts you not at all to have such a 'stupid' license, because previously, you didn't have the information at all. By every imaginable definition of the concept, you have more available to you now than you did previously.

    You have no justification for being so bitter. In this era of jealously defended "intellectual property", ANYONE giving anything away deserves commendation.. not derision.