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The USG should not be in the position that it can't manage key technologies it purchases. If Anthropic doesn't want to relinquish control of a tech it's sellin

The USG should not be in the position that it can't manage key technologies it purchases. If Anthropic doesn't want to relinquish control of a tech it's selling, the Pentagon should go with another vendor.

jedberg 8mo ago
Anthropic isn't preventing them from managing their key technologies. If my software license says 1000 users, and I build into the software that you can only connect with 1000 users, is your argument that the government can no longer manager their tech? That my software should allow license violations if the government thinks it is necessary?
- FarmerPotato 8mo ago
  I worked in defense contracting looong ago, so this is old news: when software is purchased by DoD or Govt generally, FAR compliance notices make it a license, not a sale of IP.
  - scottyah 8mo ago
    There are so many license types, DoW buys into all sorts.
a2128 8mo ago
You are misrepresenting the situation. The debate isn't about whether they should go with another vendor or not. Everybody can agree that they would have the right to pick a different vendor. That's not what they're doing, they're instead trying to force Anthropic into doing what they want by applying a designation previously only reserved for Chinese companies like Huawei as punishment for taking their stance, with an unspoken agreement that if Anthropic backs down and allows full usage then the designation will be removed
- laughing_man 8mo ago
  The Pentagon does this kind of thing all the time. It's just usually not this official.
  - adleyjulian 8mo ago
    Completely false. It's the first time a US company has been designated a supply chain risk. Now the likes of Boeing can't use them. Health companies with Medicare/Tricare contracts don't know and will hold off until it's fully litigated. This is not the government saying they're going with a different vendor, it's the government saying everyone has to choose to either have federal contracts or Claude, they can't have both.
    - laughing_man 8mo ago
      So sure... and so wrong. I've done government contracting. If you angered the Pentagon enough they would simply blacklist you. You couldn't get a contract or be a part of someone else's contract. The difference with Anthropic is it's open and above board instead of the customer telling a company "You can't sub with those guys or you won't get the contract."
      - adleyjulian 8mo ago
        Your response is myopic. Do you think large health insurers gave a shit about DoD unofficial contracting black lists or even if the DoD would even know who they're contracting with? The impact of this is far more than just DoD procurement, which is already enormous.

jedberg 8mo ago

Anthropic isn't preventing them from managing their key technologies. If my software license says 1000 users, and I build into the software that you can only connect with 1000 users, is your argument that the government can no longer manager their tech? That my software should allow license violations if the government thinks it is necessary?

FarmerPotato 8mo ago
I worked in defense contracting looong ago, so this is old news: when software is purchased by DoD or Govt generally, FAR compliance notices make it a license, not a sale of IP.
- scottyah 8mo ago
  There are so many license types, DoW buys into all sorts.

a2128 8mo ago

You are misrepresenting the situation. The debate isn't about whether they should go with another vendor or not. Everybody can agree that they would have the right to pick a different vendor. That's not what they're doing, they're instead trying to force Anthropic into doing what they want by applying a designation previously only reserved for Chinese companies like Huawei as punishment for taking their stance, with an unspoken agreement that if Anthropic backs down and allows full usage then the designation will be removed

laughing_man 8mo ago
The Pentagon does this kind of thing all the time. It's just usually not this official.
- adleyjulian 8mo ago
  Completely false. It's the first time a US company has been designated a supply chain risk. Now the likes of Boeing can't use them. Health companies with Medicare/Tricare contracts don't know and will hold off until it's fully litigated. This is not the government saying they're going with a different vendor, it's the government saying everyone has to choose to either have federal contracts or Claude, they can't have both.
  - laughing_man 8mo ago
    So sure... and so wrong. I've done government contracting. If you angered the Pentagon enough they would simply blacklist you. You couldn't get a contract or be a part of someone else's contract. The difference with Anthropic is it's open and above board instead of the customer telling a company "You can't sub with those guys or you won't get the contract."
    - adleyjulian 8mo ago
      Your response is myopic. Do you think large health insurers gave a shit about DoD unofficial contracting black lists or even if the DoD would even know who they're contracting with? The impact of this is far more than just DoD procurement, which is already enormous.