[lug] SSSCA to make all open source software illegal

John Karns jkarns at csd.net
Sun Oct 21 10:19:34 MDT 2001


This whole issue is just another reason why it would be advantageous /
mandatory to have Linux in the mainstream, IMO.  Contrary to some of what
was said here in relation to a thread a few months back, where some
perceive this would have a negative impact on the OS, such as diluting it
for a lowest common denominator e.g., improved ease of use vs. flexibility
/ control over the OS, I argue that it is not an inevitability.
Furthermore, the potential gains far outweigh the risks.

In the same way that in conformance with the unix philosophy of building a
modular system, the X subsystem was built as an add-on and thus was a net
gain, the ease-of-use elements could be implented without sacrificing
Linux's flexibility.

I think it is an important issue for the survival of Linux (and thus open
source) that this comes about.  Currently Linux has few real allies in the
corporate world.  Linux in the mainstream would mean that there would be
significant investment of corporate resources which would render the
question of abolishing Linux / open source impractical.

----------------------------------------------------------------
John Karns                                        jkarns at csd.net




More information about the LUG mailing list