I worked on some web conferencing software that would look for a server on the internet when starting up in order to check its registration code in the server's database. If the server could not be found, the software refused to work over the internet (intranet use was unimpeded). If it did find the server and the registration was bad, it would stop working.
In other words, if you stole the software, you could still use it as long as you didn't attempt to run it over the internet.
You know, the rate of decay on a Slashdot response is brutally swift. Your comment was more "insightful" than my original post - I just got there sooner.
I seriously doubt that MS will attempt to attack OSS directly.
Everyone, including the courts, knows that Linux is shaping up to pose the only credible source of competition that MS faces - an attempt to block that competition by any means other than those afforded by the marketplace - pricing, licensing, FUD, etc - would be met with a high degree of suspicion. It most likely would result in closer judicial scrutiny of MS and a revisiting of the DOJ settlement.
What Gates and people of his mindset continue to miss (or ignore) is the fact that 90% of software developers work on code that is never sold. They work for brokerages, shipping companies, hospitals. For code that is never meant to be sold, licensing is rarely an issue.
The GPL only threatens software companies whose primary source of revenue comes from shrink-wrapped proprietary applications.
You can get water for free and you can get (with a tiny bit of tech-savvy) porn for free and yet bottled water and online pay-for-porn are both HUGE businesses. Neither of them have had to resort to corrupting the legal system in order to sustain their profits.
When is the entertainment cartel going to get a clue?
Charlton Heston, president of the National Rifle Association, invoking the images of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Ronald Reagan as role models in his fight against alzheimer's.
I have l looked into this quite a bit. As a matter of fact, I built an FM transmitter from a kit ($40US). It covers about an acre and is perfectly legal because of that limitation. There are better transmitters out there - the one I'd like to have costs $150US and can cover 25 sq. miles. But you have to sign an FCC waiver in order to order it and you have to follow the FCC rules on running it (in the US, anyway). But it has the advantage of an included power supply.
This is the biggest problem with my setup - the various noise sources next to the transmitter - fans, hard drives, monitor, etc. I am running it off rechargeable 9v batteries from a cordless drill. But there is still a small amount of hum.
My initial reaction was to argue with you. But your comments are bitingly insightful. "Fair Use" and "Backups" are just as whiny as DRM and proposed legislation.
I for one, would gladly pay $5 for a new CD - this is radically preferable to downloading the various songs off some portion of the internet and creating the CD myself. It's even preferable to copying a friend's CD, because I would have the liner notes and artwork.
In spite of several attempts to put this idea into much simpler terms than presented here, the message never seemed to get through to him.
Perhaps you could try describing it this way:
"Police could be authorized to use a shotgun on a gun-wielding murder suspect in a subway car, but even if they were able to kill only the perp, there would still be people injured by stray pellets, suffering loss of hearing from the noise of the blast, subjected to pathogens in the bodily fluids of the gunman, etc ad nauseum."
This rather neatly allows Microsoft to avoid having to "share" details about Office document architecture with Open Office, KOffice, et al as per the anti-trust settlement with the US DOJ.
There were exceptions to that mandate with respect to security.
MjM
Hitting Escape while editing is a bad habit - VI needs a foot pedal
Slashdot Mirror
I worked on some web conferencing software that would look for a server on the internet when starting up in order to check its registration code in the server's database. If the server could not be found, the software refused to work over the internet (intranet use was unimpeded). If it did find the server and the registration was bad, it would stop working.
In other words, if you stole the software, you could still use it as long as you didn't attempt to run it over the internet.
Bad? Dunno...
MjM
Groovy. Gear. Mod.
MjM
Groovy. Gear. Mod.
Laziness. It runs rampant. Or, I suppose, it sloths rampant. I sloth rampant.
If it is the case that I got that stat from the Cathedral and the Bazaar, then it is quite dusty.
Wasn't that thing written in '93 or so?
Nevertheless, it is a great essay. Should be mandatory reading for anyone interested in issues concerning OSS vs. proprietary s/w
MjM
that is really an interesting observation. Damn!
MjM
You know, the rate of decay on a Slashdot response is brutally swift. Your comment was more "insightful" than my original post - I just got there sooner.
Thanks for the insight
MjM
I don't know where I read that. But I do know, it wasn't Slashdot.
I'm trying to find a source, but I don't have a lot of time to contribute to the hunt. Don't hold your breath.
MjM
That was funny :)
MjM
I seriously doubt that MS will attempt to attack OSS directly.
Everyone, including the courts, knows that Linux is shaping up to pose the only credible source of competition that MS faces - an attempt to block that competition by any means other than those afforded by the marketplace - pricing, licensing, FUD, etc - would be met with a high degree of suspicion. It most likely would result in closer judicial scrutiny of MS and a revisiting of the DOJ settlement.
MjM
I only mod up...
What Gates and people of his mindset continue to miss (or ignore) is the fact that 90% of software developers work on code that is never sold. They work for brokerages, shipping companies, hospitals. For code that is never meant to be sold, licensing is rarely an issue.
The GPL only threatens software companies whose primary source of revenue comes from shrink-wrapped proprietary applications.
MjM
I only mod up...
The GoToMyPC subscriber was home at the time and suddenly saw the cursor on his computer move around and files open as if by themselves.
Thank God he was using Windows!
MjM
You can get water for free and you can get (with a tiny bit of tech-savvy) porn for free and yet bottled water and online pay-for-porn are both HUGE businesses. Neither of them have had to resort to corrupting the legal system in order to sustain their profits.
When is the entertainment cartel going to get a clue?
MjM
I only mod up...
Charlton Heston, president of the National Rifle Association, invoking the images of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Ronald Reagan as role models in his fight against alzheimer's.
MjM
(hint:All three were shot)
Flag stickers do not a patriot make
I have l looked into this quite a bit. As a matter of fact, I built an FM transmitter from a kit ($40US). It covers about an acre and is perfectly legal because of that limitation. There are better transmitters out there - the one I'd like to have costs $150US and can cover 25 sq. miles. But you have to sign an FCC waiver in order to order it and you have to follow the FCC rules on running it (in the US, anyway). But it has the advantage of an included power supply.
This is the biggest problem with my setup - the various noise sources next to the transmitter - fans, hard drives, monitor, etc. I am running it off rechargeable 9v batteries from a cordless drill. But there is still a small amount of hum.
Enjoy!
MjM
I only mod up...
All of us older coders who are suddenly useless can all sign SCO's NDA because we know we'll never work in IT again anyway.
MjM I only mod up...
MjM
My initial reaction was to argue with you. But your comments are bitingly insightful. "Fair Use" and "Backups" are just as whiny as DRM and proposed legislation.
I for one, would gladly pay $5 for a new CD - this is radically preferable to downloading the various songs off some portion of the internet and creating the CD myself. It's even preferable to copying a friend's CD, because I would have the liner notes and artwork.
MjM
Better off Dead.
'nuff said.
MjM
Here in the US, they've even gone so far as to remove the St. Patrick's Day logos from the Google main page.
Outrage!
MjM
What do I need this crap for? I just buy my clothes at Benetton's
MjM
Just how many damn things are they going to try to cram into the Windows Registry, anyhow?
MjM
A helicopter in every garage, massive streamlined cars, vacations on Mars...
MjM
"No war for you young man, until you learn to pronounce "nuclear"
Yeah, I guess you're right - that was a little overblown.
MjM
In spite of several attempts to put this idea into much simpler terms than presented here, the message never seemed to get through to him.
Perhaps you could try describing it this way:
"Police could be authorized to use a shotgun on a gun-wielding murder suspect in a subway car, but even if they were able to kill only the perp, there would still be people injured by stray pellets, suffering loss of hearing from the noise of the blast, subjected to pathogens in the bodily fluids of the gunman, etc ad nauseum."
MjM
I only mod up...
viligante methods
Is this like the quote, "We had to destroy the village in order to save it"?
MjM
I only mod up...
This rather neatly allows Microsoft to avoid having to "share" details about Office document architecture with Open Office, KOffice, et al as per the anti-trust settlement with the US DOJ.
There were exceptions to that mandate with respect to security.
MjM
Hitting Escape while editing is a bad habit - VI needs a foot pedal