Re: [bfulgham@xpsystems.com: RE: Al Gore goes "Open Source"? [DRAFT LETTER]]

I've already sent them email, thank you. If they don't respond via
email, we'll send them a postal letter. Your efforts are
appreciated, however!
-russ

Ean R . Schuessler writes:
> There is discussion occuring on SPI-General about the Al Gore campaign.
> I think that popping in and offering _constructive_ advice would be prudent.
>
> ----- Forwarded message from Brent Fulgham <bfulgham(at)xpsystems(dot)com> -----
>
> X-Envelope-Sender: bfulgham(at)xpsystems(dot)com
> From: Brent Fulgham <bfulgham(at)xpsystems(dot)com>
> To: "J.H.M. Dassen" <jdassen(at)wi(dot)leidenuniv(dot)nl>, spi-general(at)lists(dot)debian(dot)org
> Subject: RE: Al Gore goes "Open Source"? [DRAFT LETTER]
> Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 13:44:09 -0700
> X-UIDL: 5fff83d19b1493509c931c0f0d0af3b3
>
> DRAFT LETTER
>
> Gore 2000, Inc.
> P.O. Box 18237
> Washington, DC 20036-8237
> (202) 263-6000
> sourcecodevolunteers(at)algore2000(dot)com
> legalteam(at)algore2000(dot)com
>
>
> Dear Campaign Staff:
>
> Software in the Public Interest (SPI) was pleased to see Mr. Gore supporting
> the Open Source (TM) movement. However, your campaign literature does not
> properly attribute our registered service mark as required by law.
>
> As you know, under US law we must vigorously defend our service mark from
> missuse or its meaning will be diluted and we will loose the authority to
> prevent projects that do not comply with the Open Source (TM) requirements.
>
> In addition, some of the text of your website leads us to believe that your
> Gore 2000 campaign project does not meet the requirements of an Open Source
> (TM) project.
>
> 1. Your website is copyrighted with all rights reserved. It would be more
> appropriate for you to license your website under the terms of a suitable
> Open Source (TM) license. Please visit [sites] for additional information.
> Please be aware that as an Open Source (TM) project, the "source code" for
> your site must be available for anyone to use. We must point out that this
> means that your political opponents have the right to use your source code.
>
> 2. There are some fairly onerous terms listed as part of your participation
> requirements, including undisclosed terms. While we understand your
> limitations in terms of capaign contributions under US law, it is important
> that you disclose all legal requirements to your volunteers. You may not
> limit the redistribution of items portrayed as "Open Source"(TM).
>
> 3. While you request assistance from developers with C programming, CGI,
> Cold Fusion, and other languages, you do not provide access to your current
> code base. If any such products exist, and you wish them to be open source,
> you need to establish a mechanism for access to these resources.
>
> Finally, we have one last comment directed to your site that is not related
> to its suitability as an Open Source (TM) project. You indicate support for
> the Open Source (TM) movement, but you are running your web server on
> Microsoft's server software. This is a bit of a contradiction, as Microsoft
> has been documented as an antagonist to Open Source (TM) software, as
> evidenced by the so-called "Halloween Memos" (reference). We respectfully
> suggest that you evaluate a true Open Source (TM) product, such as GNU/Linux
> or FreeBSD as an alternative. You could even continue to run Windows
> software, but use the powerful Apache webserver.
>
> SPI wishes you and Mr. Gore the best of luck in the upcoming campaign. We
> feel certain that now that you are aware of these issues that they will be
> resolved to our mutual satisfaction.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Software in the Public Interest
> =============================================
>
> Ladies and Gentlemen,
>
> Please comment away!
>
> -Brent
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: J.H.M. Dassen [mailto:jdassen(at)wi(dot)leidenuniv(dot)nl]
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 1999 1:13 PM
> > To: spi-general(at)lists(dot)debian(dot)org
> > Subject: Al Gore goes "Open Source"?
> >
> >
> > Seen on /. (sorry, I can't get a working URL for the article
> > itself at the
> > moment):
> > :Posted by CmdrTaco on 12:35 07 April 1999 EDT
> > :from the sad-publicity-in-politics dept.
> > :Mike(at)ABC writes "Can a web site be open source? Al Gore says
> > so, and the
> > :man did create the Internet, after all. Gore is looking for people to
> > :contribute code for his presidential campaign site. The page
> > says: "This is
> > :your web site -- IT'S OPEN SOURCE -- and I want you to help
> > us build it." "
> > :They even have a cute little "Gore 2000 Logo" for officially
> > approved "Gore
> > :2000 Merchandise". And Tipper has her own section! Funniest
> > thing I've seen
> > :all morning. I wonder if this will meet the open source
> > requirements.
> >
> > I strongly doubt this fits the Open Source definition, and I
> > suspect this
> > will be yet another contributing factor to the effective
> > watering down of
> > the meaning of "Open Source" to "meaningless buzzphrase" in
> > the public's
> > mind if it isn't corrected. Could someone please draft a nice letter
> > encouraging Mr. Gore('s campaign team) to use "Open Source"
> > in accordance
> > with the service mark, or refrain from using it?
> >
> > Ray
> > --
> > Tevens ben ik van mening dat Nederland overdekt dient te worden.
> >
> >
> > --
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to spi-general-request(at)lists(dot)spi-inc(dot)org
> > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact
> > listmaster(at)lists(dot)spi-inc(dot)org
> >
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
> --
> __________________________________________________________________
> Ean Schuessler A guy running Linux
> Novare International Inc. A company running Linux
> *** WARNING: This signature may contain jokes.