Slashdot Mirror
Developing Open Source Defense Projects
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!"
Could we give it a rest already!
"there will be no more fun of any kind" - Dean Wormer
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Instead of wasting your time to develop open source defense (or offense) projects, you and all your liberal friends should lobby the government of your nation to open source all of its software, hardware, mechanical designs, and any other information that is needed to recreate these designs (or to find their weaknesses prior to an attack), and to release all of that information in open-standards file formats on the Internet for anybody to use and enjoy.
Furthermore, the government should be lobbied to tax away all the money of the rich business owners and the rich property owners and give that money to a newly organization called the Warfare Freedom Foundation. The WFF would essentially provide money to hostile states so they could produce weapons of equal or higher capabilities to those of your own country.
Finally, you should lobby your government to shut down all defense projects it has, so that your country will be a sitting duck when the aforementioned hostile nations show up with tanks, missiles, planes, aircraft carriers, and other weapons, to destroy your country for no reason at all, just because they felt like it, because your country was nicer than theirs and therefore they felt oppressed (instead of working to improve their country).
Yes, I think this is a wonderful idea.
And no, I don't think there are any legal issues whatsoever involved in doing this, either.
Oh yeah, and did I mention, you should go directly to the looney bin, if you even think this is a good idea.
Oh yeah, and yes, I knew all along that this was April Fools. SUCKER!!!