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That's part of the issue, such software is not illegal to sell compiled binaries by the licensee. It is however illegal for them to redistribute licensed source
by giantrobot 2y ago
That's part of the issue, such software is not illegal to sell compiled binaries by the licensee. It is however illegal for them to redistribute licensed source/headers/documentation. They can't turn over the source because they don't own it, merely license it. Quite a bit of closed source software uses closed source licensed libraries with proscribed terms of redistribution. Untold number of embedded devices use closed source licensed dev kits the licensee has no power to redistribute themselves.
- PittleyDunkin 2y ago> That's part of the issue, such software is not illegal to sell compiled binaries by the licensee. It would be under the proposed law, which is basically the point of the proposed law. Closed software is only closed because the (regulated) market enforces its being closed, even if it's contrary to the interests of everyone but the producer of said software. The point of said regulation would be to give a (regulated) market incentive to provide actually free software. Hardware manufacturers should not rely on software moats to stay afloat! And of course with a "free market", people would be buying bricks in boxes thinking they're buying routers or cameras.