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Developing Open Source Defense Projects

Posted by michael on from the real-submissions-unedited dept.

An anonymous reader writes "I'm a developer looking to develop an open source surface-to-air missile guidance system, with the aim of helping developing nations develop low-cost missile defense systems to aid them against attack by the warplanes of invading forces. However, given the very nature of the project, I feel I may be walking into a bit of a minefield regarding the legalities of such a project, since, as I'm sure you can imagine, this project could easily benefit hostile nations was well as relatively peaceful ones! Unfortunately, since Google does not seem to shed much light on the subject, I'd be very interested in hearing Slashdot's views on the matter, especially some advice from those in the know about the legal matters - whether there would be any restrictions (exports, perhaps?) or whether it would be simply plain illegal to develop!"

6 of 388 comments (clear)

  1. ITAR by nadador · · Score: 4, Informative

    Which is worse? To feed trolls by posting replies, or to reply to any story posted on Slashdot on April 1?

    The answer to the question is of course: ITAR, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which is detailed here: http://pmdtc.org/reference.htm

    "127.1 Violations.
    (a) It is unlawful:
    (1) To export or attempt to export
    from the United States any defense article
    or technical data or to furnish
    any defense service for which a license
    or written approval is required by this
    subchapter without first obtaining the
    required license or written approval
    from the Office of Defense Trade Controls;"

    --

    Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, its too dark to read.
  2. GTFM! by palad1 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Open Source Missile, a la google.

  3. Re:I agree, lets have more truly funny stories by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    "The chicken warmed nukes were hilarious"

    Believe it or not that's totally true. I'm not kidding.

  4. Re:Right by FuzzyBad-Mofo · · Score: 2, Informative

    Because everyone knows the sword was invented after the shield.

    No, the pilum was invented after the shield.

  5. What if it's REAL by Allen+Zadr · · Score: 5, Informative

    So, I'm thinking, wouldn't it be fun to open such a project on Source Forge? Then I thought - I'll bet somebody did. (yeah, go to the link, it's there).

    --
    Kinetic stupidity has a new brand leader: Allen Zadr.
  6. ITAR/EAR not necessarily applicable. by Dr.+Zowie · · Score: 2, Informative
    ITAR applies to physical objects. EAR applies to aid and information. EAR does not apply to anything that is published (vs. proprietary). If you are developing and publishing a protocol suite or some open-source software, you are probably in the clear. The most obvious precedent is PGP (MIT Press went so far as to publish the source code as a book).


    I am not a lawyer.