Comments on: Fedora Linux- Opinion (violation of Open source)?

By: gotu

gotu — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:25:53 +0000

that is US who are affraid of their own shadows. but anyway dont mind, they can download it there..

By: mdigitale

mdigitale — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:25:53 +0000

It’s just the standard US export law. Federal law trumps all the other restrictions. In other words, if you invent some software that only works if the user is smoking crack, you can’t ship crack with your product in the United States because it is a banned substance (thankfully)

By: jerry t

jerry t — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:25:53 +0000

This is a complex issue.
The link below explain what is meant by opensource software. Section 5 states: "Some countries, including the United States, have export restrictions for certain types of software. An OSD-conformant license may warn licensees of applicable restrictions and remind them that they are obliged to obey the law; however, it may not incorporate such restrictions itself."
It is not the software maker that can discriminate against users.
THe people in Iran etc do have access to opensource software. They have developed their own distributions and import it from friendly countries. On the other hand many of those countries do not allow opensource software for fear of what ideas may be generated in their country.
This is a complex issue.

By: board678

board678 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:25:53 +0000

Certain softwares must abide by the regulations set by the United States. the laws of the US still have to be followed even though it might seem contradictory to "open source"