Comments on: Slashdot gets it wrong again http://www.j5live.com/2007/06/28/slashdot-gets-it-wrong-again/ Where the urethane hits the pavement Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:34:18 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: J5 http://www.j5live.com/2007/06/28/slashdot-gets-it-wrong-again/comment-page-1/#comment-18662 J5 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:34:18 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=387#comment-18662 I am no lawyer so I can't really answer your question but I can make some educated guesses. First of all, all US citizens are subject to the blacklist laws but I don't think it requires we block our servers to those countries which are on the blacklist. The code in question is available through many different repositories, some of which are not under the control of Red Hat and are not subject to the laws of the US. Looking at the legal/export page on the Fedora wiki (http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Legal/Export) it would seems from the product matrix that the regulations only apply to Fedora "products" (though the page might just be out of date). A product is not well defined here but looking at the matrix it may just well mean releases made by Red Hat sin it only lists Fedora Core products and not Extras. It also fails to list Fedora 7 which was moved to the community. Again the page might just be out of date. Export restrictions are murky. What constitutes as export is something you will have to ask a lawyer. They do trump any license, including the GPL but only where it is enforcible (i.e. US citizens are subject to it). One thing I do know as fact is that Libya has not been on that list after accepting responsibility for past terrorism which had been perpetrated by Libyan citizens, paying reparation to affected families and denouncing terrorism. I am no lawyer so I can’t really answer your question but I can make some educated guesses.

First of all, all US citizens are subject to the blacklist laws but I don’t think it requires we block our servers to those countries which are on the blacklist. The code in question is available through many different repositories, some of which are not under the control of Red Hat and are not subject to the laws of the US.

Looking at the legal/export page on the Fedora wiki (http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Legal/Export) it would seems from the product matrix that the regulations only apply to Fedora “products” (though the page might just be out of date). A product is not well defined here but looking at the matrix it may just well mean releases made by Red Hat sin it only lists Fedora Core products and not Extras. It also fails to list Fedora 7 which was moved to the community. Again the page might just be out of date.

Export restrictions are murky. What constitutes as export is something you will have to ask a lawyer. They do trump any license, including the GPL but only where it is enforcible (i.e. US citizens are subject to it).

One thing I do know as fact is that Libya has not been on that list after accepting responsibility for past terrorism which had been perpetrated by Libyan citizens, paying reparation to affected families and denouncing terrorism.

]]> By: Alan Pater http://www.j5live.com/2007/06/28/slashdot-gets-it-wrong-again/comment-page-1/#comment-18661 Alan Pater Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:43:05 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=387#comment-18661 As you point out, the change from RH servers to Fedora servers makes no difference to blacklisted users. But how will users and developers in Cuba and other restricted countries (is Libya still on the CIA's list?) get access to the code then? As you point out, the change from RH servers to Fedora servers makes no difference to blacklisted users. But how will users and developers in Cuba and other restricted countries (is Libya still on the CIA’s list?) get access to the code then?

]]> By: J5 http://www.j5live.com/2007/06/28/slashdot-gets-it-wrong-again/comment-page-1/#comment-18660 J5 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 02:56:46 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=387#comment-18660 Hardly news to you but some people take Slashdot as bible. It presents itself as a news site and I have the right to set the record straight when my own mailing list post is misinterpreted. If you are going to give Slashdot a pass because it is entertaining then I guess we should do the same for Microsoft or Fox News. FUD is FUD, and I call it as I see it. Hardly news to you but some people take Slashdot as bible. It presents itself as a news site and I have the right to set the record straight when my own mailing list post is misinterpreted. If you are going to give Slashdot a pass because it is entertaining then I guess we should do the same for Microsoft or Fox News. FUD is FUD, and I call it as I see it.

]]> By: Robert Knight http://www.j5live.com/2007/06/28/slashdot-gets-it-wrong-again/comment-page-1/#comment-18659 Robert Knight Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:43:57 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=387#comment-18659 Slashdot posting an absurd article with a misleading or completely inaccurate summary is hardly news John. I don't think it warrants surprise, let alone indignation. The interest of Slashdot for me has always been its mix of nonsense and genuinely interesting articles. Slashdot posting an absurd article with a misleading or completely inaccurate summary is hardly news John. I don’t think it warrants surprise, let alone indignation.

The interest of Slashdot for me has always been its mix of nonsense and genuinely interesting articles.

]]>