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I find your answer deeply dissatisfying. If there are systems set up that cut off knowledge from certain parts of the world, or even make it much harder to get
by andrewljohnson 16y ago
I find your answer deeply dissatisfying.
If there are systems set up that cut off knowledge from certain parts of the world, or even make it much harder to get it, I think that is injustice. I regard it as a basic human right to have access to the same information everyone else does. That's why we have public libraries.
In the U.S., we regard free speech as sacred, and I would argue that the reverse of free speech - the right to hear others - is equally as vital.
This idea that someone owns unique configuration of words and sounds is old and dying. You can own distribution platforms, own objects, and hire people who can make streams of words. But you can't own an idea.
- smitts 16y ago--This idea that someone owns unique configuration of words and sounds is old and dying.-- That software you're working on is just a unique configuration of words and symbols. I think there's value in protecting that, and I don't see any difference in regards to written publications.
- andrewljohnson 16y agoThat's the thing... I'm pretty sure we can open source all of our code, and it will be business as usual. We already open source a lot of stuff, because that stuff alone isn't nearly enough to beat us.
- bendmorris 16y ago"I'm pretty sure we can open source all of our code, and it will be business as usual." For everyone working on something trivial, which is most people, you're right. I don't think it would really work for important complex algorithms, etc., i.e., Google is not going to open source their search algorithm. It sounds like you're saying that Google, after coming up with their version of search, should've just opened it up to the world, because everyone has the "right" to know what they're up to. Do you think they'd be in the same position today if they'd done that?
- andrewljohnson 16y agoGoogle's main search algorithms are well-known and essentially open. It's all the little bits they keep adding on that are unknown.