Day 7: Free vs. Proprietary Code and Content
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Day 7: Free vs. Proprietary Code and Content
This day examines quite different models for the development and distribution of software --
which can also serve as models for hardware, and for content. What kind of ecosystem,
featuring what models, is desirable?
We will think about current issues in cybersecurity as a case study in why free vs. proprietary
code might matter, and take up the question of how regulation might be applied when there are
no easily identified intermediaries in the production of code.
And we will hear from the legendary David Clark, one of the framers of the Internet.
Readings:
Richard Stallman, “Original Announcement of the GNU Project,” GNU Operating System
(September 27, 1983) https:/Awww.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html archived at
https://perma.cc/2V5W-89P3.
The Free Software Foundation, “What is free software?,” GNU Operating System
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html archived at https://oerma.cc/7884-5ZUR.
o [FOR REFERENCE] The Free Software Foundation, "Categories of Free and
nonfree software,” GNU Operating System:
https://www.qnu.org/philosophy/categories.html archived at
https://oerma.cc/HH79-6YVX.
Jonathan Zittrain, The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It. New Haven: 2008
https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/4455262/Zittrain Future%200f%20the%201
nternet.pdf?sequence=1 archived at https://oerma.cc/B7RL-JRKK.
o Read Chapter 4: Generative Patterns (pages 67-100).
Jeff Atwood, “Tivoization and the GPL,” Coding Horror (February 18, 2008),
https://blog.codinghorror.com/tivoization-and-the-qpl/ archived at
https://perma.cc/YFQ5-42XW.
Rusty Foster, “The Internet’s Telltale Heartbleed,” The New Yorker (April 9, 2014)
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/the-internets-telltale-heartbleed archived at
https://perma.cc/AC9L-HW34.
Ron Amadeo, “Google’s iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means
necessary,” Ars Technica (October 20, 2013)
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/20 13/10/qoogles-iron-qrip-on-android-controlling-open-so
urce-by-any-means-necessary/ archived at https://perma.cc/QKW2-3EQH.
[OPTIONAL] Open Source Licenses: Richard Fontana et. al, A Lega/ Issues Primer For
Open Source and Free Software Projects. Software Freedom Law Center (June 4, 2008)
https://www.softwarefreedom.org/resources/2008/foss-primer.pdf archived at
https://perma.cc/2CMH-UP4G.
© Read Chapter 2 only.
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_024267
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