5 ms·

Public Resource demands the source code to America's operating system

16 points by rms 17y ago

jgfoot 17y ago
Claims about the law being "locked behind a cash register" are overblown, because everything the article is talking about are available from public libraries. While this might not be enough for people who are used to consuming everything they read through a web browser, it is not the same as "secret" or even "closed-source." (And, by the way, both patents and the CFR are indeed available online, just not in one single bulk download).
- yummyfajitas 17y ago
  This is simply false for the "Incorporated by Reference" standards (see point #2). Many regulations state "X must satisfy ANSII standard Y", when ANSII standard Y is not free. Additionally, some municipalities have local building codes available only for a price.
ars 17y ago
I hate how the building code costs so much to get. I want to build something, and I want to know the right (legal?) way to do it, so I look it up - ha! It's impossible to find out without paying big bucks. In my case I was plumbing a sink and wanted to know when it was legal to install one of those one way vent valves instead of a vent to the roof (in some places you are allowed 3 per floor, or something like that as long as certain conditions are met). I never did find out, so I just did what was easier.
Kadin 17y ago
Points 1 and 2 seem well taken. I'd like to hear more about the story behind point 3, though. > Last year, we pooled our money with Sunlight Foundation and other groups and forked over $17,000 for the bulk feed of the Code of Federal Regulations. Well, the product is defective and we want our money back. In what way was the "product" "defective"? What was the product and who supplied it? If it's the case of them asking for the CFR, and they're upset because the CFR incorporates standards by reference, that doesn't seem like grounds to go asking for a refund; that's pretty common knowledge (because of how much it sucks). They need to balance their legitimate concerns with not sounding petulant about $17k -- small beans in the world of government.

16 points by rms 17y ago

Claims about the law being "locked behind a cash register" are overblown, because everything the article is talking about are available from public libraries. While this might not be enough for people who are used to consuming everything they read through a web browser, it is not the same as "secret" or even "closed-source." (And, by the way, both patents and the CFR are indeed available online, just not in one single bulk download).

yummyfajitas 17y ago
This is simply false for the "Incorporated by Reference" standards (see point #2). Many regulations state "X must satisfy ANSII standard Y", when ANSII standard Y is not free. Additionally, some municipalities have local building codes available only for a price.

ars 17y ago

I hate how the building code costs so much to get. I want to build something, and I want to know the right (legal?) way to do it, so I look it up - ha! It's impossible to find out without paying big bucks. In my case I was plumbing a sink and wanted to know when it was legal to install one of those one way vent valves instead of a vent to the roof (in some places you are allowed 3 per floor, or something like that as long as certain conditions are met). I never did find out, so I just did what was easier.

Kadin 17y ago

Points 1 and 2 seem well taken. I'd like to hear more about the story behind point 3, though. > Last year, we pooled our money with Sunlight Foundation and other groups and forked over $17,000 for the bulk feed of the Code of Federal Regulations. Well, the product is defective and we want our money back. In what way was the "product" "defective"? What was the product and who supplied it? If it's the case of them asking for the CFR, and they're upset because the CFR incorporates standards by reference, that doesn't seem like grounds to go asking for a refund; that's pretty common knowledge (because of how much it sucks). They need to balance their legitimate concerns with not sounding petulant about $17k -- small beans in the world of government.