http://www.dancohen.org/2007/08/02/nineteenth-century-open-source/ Covering the intersection of digital technology and research, teaching, and learning in the humanities, including search, data mining, website development and design, and programming. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:11:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/08/02/nineteenth-century-open-source/#comment-37 Ascription is an Anathema to any Enthusiasm » Blog Archive » Early Patent Pooling Sun, 05 Aug 2007 21:21:18 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/08/02/nineteenth-century-open-source/#comment-37 [...] Cohen notes that the Shaker’s also pooled their patents.  Of course the two cases aren’t quite the same since those religious communities are not [...] [...] Cohen notes that the Shaker’s also pooled their patents.  Of course the two cases aren’t quite the same since those religious communities are not [...]

]]> http://www.dancohen.org/2007/08/02/nineteenth-century-open-source/#comment-24 Erik Hetzner Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:13:02 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/08/02/nineteenth-century-open-source/#comment-24 There is a certain copyleft aspect of this, in turning patents on their head. There is a certain copyleft aspect of this, in turning patents on their head.

]]> http://www.dancohen.org/2007/08/02/nineteenth-century-open-source/#comment-17 Dan Cohen Fri, 03 Aug 2007 01:25:28 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/08/02/nineteenth-century-open-source/#comment-17 A good point, Erik. The community-specific, limited aspect of this "freedom" or "openness" makes the Shakers' case an imperfect historical precursor. I'll have to do some more research on how they treated outsiders. A good point, Erik. The community-specific, limited aspect of this “freedom” or “openness” makes the Shakers’ case an imperfect historical precursor. I’ll have to do some more research on how they treated outsiders.

]]> http://www.dancohen.org/2007/08/02/nineteenth-century-open-source/#comment-16 Erik Hetzner Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:34:10 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/08/02/nineteenth-century-open-source/#comment-16 This is interesting, but one of the most important aspects of free software is that it imposes no restrictions on WHO may use the software. I am sure that there are plenty within the community who would like to restrict the use of their code to, say, non-commercial purposes, or non-military, or governments which are not dictatorships, or their own religious community. But the fact that ANYBODY is free to use free software is one of the most essential freedoms that it provides. See: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html This is interesting, but one of the most important aspects of free software is that it imposes no restrictions on WHO may use the software. I am sure that there are plenty within the community who would like to restrict the use of their code to, say, non-commercial purposes, or non-military, or governments which are not dictatorships, or their own religious community. But the fact that ANYBODY is free to use free software is one of the most essential freedoms that it provides. See: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

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