Disadvantages Of Open Source Software

If you ask me about the disadvantages of open source software now, I can say there are two facts I really don't like about it. First, you can't eat it, and second, you can't drink it. I am not joking, because that's what I can tell you for now. Why? Well, I am not a programmer, and for most computer users, there's no big difference between open source and freeware. After all, you get the program for free, install it, play with it for as long as you like, no matter if it's freeware, or open source, but for programmers, there's a big difference. While freeware applications don't usually give you the chance to go through their source code and even modify it, the open source ones allow you this, and even more, in some cases. Now, it seems things in the open source world are slowly changing, as we're going to see right away...

OK, so where were we? Oh, yeah, disadvantages of open source software! A recent US federal court has just ruled that the holder of a copyright to some code made available for free download can enforce an "open source copyright license" to control future use of its work. As strange as it may seem, open source proponents have argued that those who don't comply with the conditions should be subject to copyright infringement claims. Say whaaaaat? I know I may not be that deep into open source, but there's one thing I am sure of - I don't like the way this sounds! Not at all!

It all started with Robert Jacobsen, a hobbyist who made software used for model trains. Obviously, free software, but he ended up bringing copyright infringement claims against developers of commercial products, as they didn't follow the terms of his programs' license.

After being rejected by a lower court, Jacoben got his claims finally fulfilled, in a court decision described as "a fantastic ruling" by his lawyer. According to Victoria Hall, Jacobsen's lawyer, the decision "shows that open-source groups can protect their code under copyright laws, and this is a ruling that other open-source groups can use."

In the end, I think it all ends well. I may have been a bit in a hurry to draw my conclusions - the open source movement can sleep well, as long as they are not going to steal code and turn it into commercial products without following the Artistic License. Anyway, this is only my opinion, so if you know more, or would like to say something, go ahead - I am "all ears!"