[ohf-licenses] "What if copyright didn't apply to binary executables?"

[Terry Hancock]

Hi all,

I wrote a piece in Free Software Magazine:

"What if copyright didn't apply to binary executables?"
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/what_if_copyright_didnt_apply_binary_executables

which may be of some interest.

It was inspired by some discussions with Greg London about hardware
licenses and "functionality" versus "expression". I think it was Greg
who first suggested that binaries probably shouldn't have been covered
by copyright. (BTW, I put an acknowledgment to you at the end, Greg).

Anyway, as a "what if?" it seemed like a very good wedge to communicate
the hardware copyleft problem to the free software community. I think
most free software users will be able to appreciate what a mess it
would've been for the free software community. So, I worked it up into
what I hope is an informative article.

Cheers,
Terry

-- 
Terry Hancock (hancock at AnansiSpaceworks.com)
Anansi Spaceworks http://www.AnansiSpaceworks.com