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Story: Gates: Restricting IP rights is tantamount to communism
Posted by: Brent Roberts (Monday 10 January 2005, 11:06 PM)
Ricardo – I'm using version 1.1.1. Ironically, I just decided to use it to write this (so I could spell check before I post) and it just crashed on me again... “Unrecoverable Error” nd then the windows dissapeared. OpenOffice is inferior to MS Office in terms of functionality and possibly stability. However, it is superior in terms of cost.
When I say I use Linux “just for fun”, I meant that I began using it as a hobby, and learned a lot. Now that I know what's going on under the hood, I choose Linux over Windows because its more flexible, stable and has less viruses. “Just for fun” was a poor choice of words, but the point remains that Linux is not as good as Windows for someone without the technical know how, which is why Windows has earned such a tremendous market share.
And no, I do not work for a MS affiliated company. In fact I own a company which would very much like to see open source software surpass MS Office. I must that I objectively believe it has not. If you could send me those links which state the contrary, I'd appreciate it.
As fas as the heart of the issues, I am vehemently opposed to placing restrictions on open source software. If Gates is suggesting this, then to hell with him. I do not believe he is for this though. I believe he is defending IP rights, not advocating the abolition of open source. Observe that he does not once equivocate communism with open source. He equivocates communism with violating rights, and he is correct.
No matter what anyone claims, the protection of intellectual property rights is essential to the success of closed software as well as open source software. These issues are two sides of the same coin. The real issue is, does an individual have the right to dispose of the product of their effort? If a developer chooses to open source their work, then that right should be protected, just as if they wish to close source it. And violating a software license such as MS end user agreement entails violating Bill's rights, just as violating the terms of the GPL in the open source world entails violating the rights of those developers.
Full Talkback thread
Story: Gates: Restricting IP rights is tantamount to communism
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The magic word "communism" always seems to be used... Arthur B. -
Are we suddenly back in the 1950s? Perhaps Mr... Chris Rankin -
I agree with Arthur B.
Mr Gates should read... Micheal H
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Gates is precisely correct: communism operat... Brent Roberts
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Confusion between IP rights and copyrigh... Steve B -
Brent Roberts is wrong.
"Gates is precis... Kevin Peacock
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There can be so such 'rights' which... Brent Roberts -
Brent. Sigh. Communism has not... Arthur B.
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If a requisite of "skills, kno... Brent Roberts
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Brent. I would like to recomme... Arthur B.
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An interesting debate Brent, b... Kevin Peacock
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Lets stick with the mousetrap... Brent Roberts
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A good reply Arthur.
Brent, I... Kevin Peacock
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Hi Brent, what OO version are you using... ricardo mardisich
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Ricardo – I'm using version 1.1.1.... Brent Roberts -
Oh bugger off, the world's a better place with win... samuel
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Samuel,
Replying to you in the same vein as y... Andy
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Not much ammunition left for Mr Gates.
I... Anonymous
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The world Mr Gates wants to see has far more in co... Kevin Peacock
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I see he's had to resort to name-calling again.
So... Steve J
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World is much worse off thanks to MS and IBM... Steve B
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I think that Gates is unwanted and unnee... NJ
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Kevin. Well said. Very well said.
B... Arthur B.
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"Its eyes ever set on the competition, Microsoft w... Ricardo Mardisich
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Microsoft Litigation Resource Page
"the world... ricardo mardisich
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Ricardo, thanks for your comment. We wou... Matt Loney
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Beside the fact that this is nothing more than FUD... BURNAND Patrick
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I find Bill Gates comments on mesh networking inte... Andy Coney
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In a similar discussion on IP rights on a dif... Mark Jones
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Anonymous
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