If you prescribe to the beliefs of the FSF and do not believe in intellectual property the only conclusion about the topic of NDAs that you could make is that they are immoral.
Information is by its very nature free. Nearly ALL encryption is breakable*, which to me proves that information is inherently free -- all of our manmade attempts to confine information have failed or will at some time fail given adequate time and technology. When a word or idea is expressed it can not be taken back - it belongs to the public. The whole concept of encryption is completely backwards. As an altuistic society we need to look deeper within ourselves and understand that only through cooperation can we succeed as a society. Encryption (and the secrecy of NDAs), though I admit I find it to be a fascinating subject from a purely technical standpoint -- I have read and researched quite a bit on the subject, is just another man made technology which makes the claim to be 'progress' which actually represents a social and spiritual regression. NDAs signify our distrust of others and is yet another thorn in the side of humanity and society which is preventing us from attaining some higher understanding or spiritual enlightenment if you will.
*The only case I can think of where encryption would be unbreakable is when some data is encrypted with a one-time-pad and somehow the key has been completely lost from anyones memory.
Slashdot Mirror
If you prescribe to the beliefs of the FSF and do not believe in intellectual property the only conclusion about the topic of NDAs that you could make is that they are immoral. Information is by its very nature free. Nearly ALL encryption is breakable*, which to me proves that information is inherently free -- all of our manmade attempts to confine information have failed or will at some time fail given adequate time and technology. When a word or idea is expressed it can not be taken back - it belongs to the public. The whole concept of encryption is completely backwards. As an altuistic society we need to look deeper within ourselves and understand that only through cooperation can we succeed as a society. Encryption (and the secrecy of NDAs), though I admit I find it to be a fascinating subject from a purely technical standpoint -- I have read and researched quite a bit on the subject, is just another man made technology which makes the claim to be 'progress' which actually represents a social and spiritual regression. NDAs signify our distrust of others and is yet another thorn in the side of humanity and society which is preventing us from attaining some higher understanding or spiritual enlightenment if you will. *The only case I can think of where encryption would be unbreakable is when some data is encrypted with a one-time-pad and somehow the key has been completely lost from anyones memory.