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May 14th, 2009

Where does Obama stand on open source?

Posted by Dana Blankenhorn @ 7:52 am

Categories: General, Government, Internet, Legal, content, mass market, politics

Tags: MPAA, President, Barack Obama, Administration, Sullivan, Open Source, Dana Blankenhorn

Love him or hate him, Barack Obama will be President into 2013.

This is a key moment for open source. In some ways it is going from strength to strength. But it remains vulnerable to counter-attack from the copyright industries.

So far the President’s record on open source is mixed. (Picture form P2PNet’s coverage of the President’s evolving copyright stance.)

The Administration counts as a user of open source, with some of its Web sites running Drupal. The Administration has made moves which seem supportive of open source, both in health care and the military.

On the other hand the Free Software Foundation finds itself on the opposite side of the bar from the Administration in the case of Sony v. Tenenbaum, a music-sharing case.

FSF operations manager John Sullivan writes that the RIAA’s position is a direct attack on free software, and aimed a special dollop of bile at Vice President Joe Biden, practically calling him the copyright industry’s answer to Dick Cheney:

 Joe Biden recently spoke at a MPAA luncheon. He adopted the entertainment industry’s loaded “piracy” language, saying, “It’s pure theft.” Biden also assured the MPAA that President Obama would find the “right” copyright czar.

Sullivan’s fight is really with the RIAA and MPAA, which he charges want to change copyright to “an ordinary physical property right” by extending its terms to eternity and making every file transfer subject to payment.

Sullivan is warning that kids are already becoming afraid to distribute disks with Linux, fearing teachers doing the work of the copyright police.

My own view is more nuanced. I believe Sullivan is deliberately making a “slippery slope” argument that equates the Administration’s support for copyright law, which open source depends on for its own protection, with opposition to open source.

However, I find myself increasingly at odds with the President on issues like torture, banking, and his latest FCC nomination. The honeymoon is over and it’s time to support the man when he’s right and fight him when he’s wrong.

So I’m willing to be convinced that President Obama hates open source. Can you convince me?

Dana BlankenhornDana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. You can follow Dana on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 302 Talkback(s)
Reply to ITLeader...
You don't want people to recognize the truth,

The truth can take different forms. Some people quote facts, and other quote facts within statements or speeches. Some people use facts to... (Read the rest)
Posted by: adornoe@... Posted on: 05/22/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
I think that like most people outside of IT  Michael Kelly | 05/14/09
How can we judge a man on something...  superbus | 05/14/09
doesnt suprise me  Jimster480 | 05/15/09
Want a t-shirt?  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
I suspect the President knows what open source is  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
I don' think he knows how to wipe his ****.  bendib | 05/16/09
Why the word socialist is now more popular than Republican  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
Actually, the facts don't back up your statements...  adornoe@... | 05/16/09
Speaking of getting your facts right...  914four | 05/17/09
... yea hmmm....  shadfurman | 05/18/09
Reply to shadfurman  914four | 05/18/09
You actually don't know the meaning of "facts" or "truth"  adornoe@... | 05/22/09
Way to misread it  ITLeader | 05/18/09
To a liberal, it all depends upon what the meaning of "is" is...  adornoe@... | 05/22/09
WOW !!  pizzaman7 | 05/18/09
...but you DID dignify it with a reaction...  shadfurman | 05/18/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  bran.murray | 05/14/09
The only way he'd be interested in open source  frgough | 05/14/09
It's too bad American business has been failing  Michael Kelly | 05/14/09
Unsustainable models.  fr0thy2 | 05/14/09
It's good to see your warper/fantasy perspectives...  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
Read below...when  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
It took 80 years...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
He still doesn't have a need to  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
BINGO - Don't tell frothy...he thinks Gov is the  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
Exactly...  SAStarling | 05/15/09
Government is neither the problem nor the solution  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
A complete, deliberate misreading of history  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Which is why he'd likely not be a supporter  JohnMcGrew@... | 05/15/09
Certainly it can be controlled by fiat  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
No One's Forcing Them  Albee_Freeoneday | 05/15/09
Re: No One's Forcing Them  zeblonite | 05/15/09
I guess so  Albee_Freeoneday | 05/15/09
@Albee_Freeoneday  PollyProteus | 05/15/09
Good Point...nt  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
Sounds like socialism to me! 9N/T  windozefreak | 05/15/09
BINGO!  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
No government? move to Somalia  rarsa | 05/15/09
And,  windozefreak | 05/15/09
There is precedent for that...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Cops and robbers  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
No student should be afraid of giving away linux.  bendib | 05/16/09
I would really like to see some evidence...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
You got that right  ITLeader | 05/14/09
he has been around long enough to have an opinion  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/14/09
Depends on whether he feels  GuidingLight | 05/14/09
He Likes it For Him But Not Anyone Else  Albee_Freeoneday | 05/15/09
You got that right  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
Who is this "Blessed One" you keep talking about?  Roc Riz | 05/15/09
LOL - Ask Oprah - happy nt  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
WTF does Oprah have to do with ANYTHING?  Roc Riz | 05/15/09
Well, she keeps Ben & Jerry's afloat.  James T. Kirk | 05/15/09
If the "blessed -one" is Obama then  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
re:JohnE - very good LOL!! nt  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
Please do  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
You need to get over Yourself....  windozefreak | 05/15/09
code words  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
God bless your soul!  bendib | 05/16/09
Obama's thoughts on Open Source?  SAStarling | 05/15/09
Besides  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
I'd love to sit & have a beer with you...  SAStarling | 05/15/09
And your health care is not his business  windozefreak | 05/15/09
I'm dying, but no longer because of cancer.  deedeedubya | 05/16/09
Heard the good news about ZDNet Healthcare?  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
Social Security:  CodeCurmudgeon | 05/18/09
I Hear Ya!  Tracy_Barber@... | 05/15/09
Open Source is just another business model.  Zukuzu | 05/14/09
Because this president is a fascist in the classic sense  frgough | 05/14/09
And he wouldn't have done any of that  Michael Kelly | 05/14/09
WRONG  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
LOL... grin Yeah we need more Bernie Madoff's out there  Wintel BSOD | 05/15/09
You really believe that?  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Boy you really are either on the outside of  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
Classic Textbook Fascism  Yagotta B. Kidding | 05/14/09
You had a lousy teacher then  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
But Hitler nationalized very little  John L. Ries | 05/15/09
Indirect control  mr.m.j.kelly | 05/15/09
but Ford supported Hitler  cferriby | 05/15/09
Please Re-study...  Tracy_Barber@... | 05/15/09
Your text books didn't understand Fascism.  CodeCurmudgeon | 05/18/09
Are you serious?  mr.m.j.kelly | 05/15/09
Yes!  Tracy_Barber@... | 05/15/09
Financial Darwinism...  PollyProteus | 05/15/09
A Good Point  Tracy_Barber@... | 05/15/09
If an organization is too big to fail. . .  CodeCurmudgeon | 05/18/09
I might have to revisit, but...  John L. Ries | 05/15/09
Facist Corporations aren't even voted for.  fr0thy2 | 05/14/09
What a load of crop (misspelled to not irritate)  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Nice balanced viewpoint  dano-z | 05/15/09
Excuse me...  James T. Kirk | 05/15/09
that contridicts what your point is  cferriby | 05/15/09
You can't debate what you don't know  windozefreak | 05/15/09
CRA  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
@ ^  James T. Kirk | 05/16/09
NO! You mindless twirp!  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Right Again...Bush was not a great  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
Responsible politicians? Where?  mr.m.j.kelly | 05/15/09
No he isn't.  James T. Kirk | 05/15/09
Nope -  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
Perfect and accurate. He's a Euro Socialist -  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
You are deluitional  rarsa | 05/15/09
A simple check of history should set you straight  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
What deluted history are you talking about?  windozefreak | 05/15/09
You make a funny  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
You lost  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Denying the facts does not make you right  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Uh huh...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Turning us into a green communist state is not the right thing  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
That's a bit dire  dano-z | 05/15/09
Excellent! Bravo!  mr.m.j.kelly | 05/15/09
Absolutely agreed  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
a clear example....  goff256 | 05/15/09
Your employer will be asking for a drug test...  SAStarling | 05/15/09
The POTUS isn't doing anything  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
when you own it  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
Please make up your mind  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/14/09
Hitler and Mao do have a lot in common  LBiege | 05/14/09
Chairman Mao  elderlybloke | 05/14/09
Yes, but before that...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
I hope so  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Let them continue...  storm14k | 05/14/09
Kudo's to storm14k  Albee_Freeoneday | 05/15/09
Alinsky  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Alinsky  Albee_Freeoneday | 05/15/09
Splitting hars  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
You Are Kind Of Right  Albee_Freeoneday | 05/15/09
Think again....  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Sorry But, You'd Better Check Again  Albee_Freeoneday | 05/15/09
But we're a democracy  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Pepsi, Coca-cola, Royal Crown  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
You bring up two good points  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
My vote is for 'C'...  Roc Riz | 05/15/09
If you want to know how, check this out:  cornpie | 05/15/09
Re; Please make up your mind.  hkommedal | 05/19/09
Banking and auto industry  elderlybloke | 05/14/09
Wrong on all counts...  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Speaking of wrong...  Ralph Wells | 05/15/09
Try the historical record  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
I'm shocked... shocked I tell you  Albee_Freeoneday | 05/15/09
You're not qualified to recognize "wrong"  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Sooo very sorry  Ralph Wells | 05/15/09
Both sides have a right to their opinion  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Please validate your "facts"  dano-z | 05/15/09
Not possible in this discussion...  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Healthcare  Timothy (TRiG) | 05/15/09
... continued  Timothy (TRiG) | 05/15/09
Re; government health care should be enough to scare you  hkommedal | 05/19/09
You Are Wrong  windozefreak | 05/15/09
No one was required to make loans  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
You have not done your homweork  adornoe@... | 05/16/09
amusing  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
Buggy Whips  Albee_Freeoneday | 05/15/09
He is not a Fascist.  codeguy007 | 05/15/09
Time to flee?  John L. Ries | 05/15/09
SOS  windozefreak | 05/15/09
A little bit of history...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Because...  Tracy_Barber@... | 05/15/09
Why would you ever NOT fight him when he's wrong  frgough | 05/14/09
Yes we did  ITLeader | 05/14/09
You are a good example of..  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
He's a better example of  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
You guys are funny  ITLeader | 05/15/09
Why not argue by presenting the facts?  adornoe@... | 05/16/09
Well, bring something besides talking points  ITLeader | 05/18/09
This is a very old argument  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
lessons of history  Loggies | 05/15/09
Yes  Altotus | 05/15/09
Actually, no he doesn't have a point there  adornoe@... | 05/16/09
Actually, you're absolutely wrong...  adornoe@... | 05/16/09
Every President gets a honeymoon...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/14/09
If every Prez gets a honeymoon, then...  SAStarling | 05/15/09
Good point...but I think it's starting to come  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
You look the other way, of course...  John L. Ries | 05/15/09
To elaborate  John L. Ries | 05/15/09
Thank you for that...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  jimmyed2000 | 05/14/09
An interesting point  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/14/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  jimmyed2000 | 05/14/09
That is another good question  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/14/09
Don't say that...  rapson | 05/14/09
Don't DARE say that...  Roc Riz | 05/15/09
Yes it does..  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Another Foxercised Fanatic  windozefreak | 05/15/09
Do some independent thinking...  adornoe@... | 05/16/09
Independent thinking  ITLeader | 05/18/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  oicur12ok | 05/14/09
What does it say about OSS when Government intervention is sought out?  mikefarinha | 05/14/09
It says it's up against a convicted monopoly.  fr0thy2 | 05/14/09
So, those black helicopters flew away long enough  GuidingLight | 05/14/09
It Says...  windozefreak | 05/15/09
Government intervention  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/14/09
Government shouldn't pick winners and losers  mikefarinha | 05/14/09
Very nice. You're not a Whig  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Think a little bit...  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
YOu have that completely backwards.  cornpie | 05/16/09
Marbury vs. Madison  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
It says Open Source = Detroit UAW  LBiege | 05/14/09
That's a little harsh but it's time for Unions to  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
Forget that, why not bring back child labor?  jbroche18 | 05/18/09
as opposed to, say, AIG?  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Ya Know...  Tracy_Barber@... | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  anonymous99 | 05/14/09
lame joke  Linux Geek | 05/14/09
Hello? I believe he means  GuidingLight | 05/14/09
More Likely the citizenry  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
You are hysterical  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
What Malfeasance???  windozefreak | 05/15/09
Yes that is a joke....  storm14k | 05/14/09
Silly little you....  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Ouch. But Hey he wrote two successful books  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
he was more experianced than she was  cferriby | 05/15/09
senarot vs governor  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
You are a joke  ITLeader | 05/15/09
Have you ever heard of the word "experience"?  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
BS on your experience  ITLeader | 05/15/09
Obama can't even spell "intelligence"  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
hahaha  ITLeader | 05/15/09
A little trivia for you  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Wrong question, and very wrong comparisons...  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
my right and your right  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
You're right.. In a way...  adornoe@... | 05/16/09
The Majority of The Voters Said So!!!  windozefreak | 05/15/09
At least she has executive experience  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
Look at what Buchco, Inc. left for the current administration.  Roc Riz | 05/15/09
Get you head our of your you know what...  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Yea! Poor Me Bull SH__  windozefreak | 05/15/09
knowledge vs. talking points  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
Unfortunate way of thinking...  adornoe@... | 05/16/09
@adornoe. Really unfortunate  ITLeader | 05/18/09
Reply to ITLeader...  adornoe@... | 05/22/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  midgarddragon@... | 05/14/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  pigiron | 05/14/09
Why Don't you Check and...  windozefreak | 05/15/09
Obama is human and fallible.  peter_erskine@... | 05/14/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  tonymcs@... | 05/14/09
Attn. tonymcs  elderlybloke | 05/14/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  someitguy79 | 05/15/09
That is the least of our problems.  James T. Kirk | 05/15/09
AMEN Brother! - nt  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
It depends on how it promotes his agenda  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
We've been embracing "communism" for eight years...  storm14k | 05/15/09
Speaking of senseless  hiraghm@... | 05/15/09
Don't waste your finger muscles. Storm is  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
Also...  Dave32265 | 05/15/09
It doens't happen overnight  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
That's why...  Dave32265 | 05/15/09
Try to pay attention...  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Removing ...  Dave32265 | 05/15/09
Term Limits (or "In Condemnation of the 22nd Amendment")  jbroche18 | 05/18/09
You Talk About Constitution...  windozefreak | 05/15/09
Not All open Source is Free (as in beer)...  Dave32265 | 05/15/09
That is an excellent point, Dave...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
OBAMA: EXPLOIT NOT INNOVATE  scott1329 | 05/15/09
We don't know that  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
I think the problem is not to be or not Open source.  magallanes | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  codeguy007 | 05/15/09
Totally wrong focus...  David Gale | 05/15/09
You must be kidding  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Wrong.  David Gale | 05/15/09
You sound like a good candidate for Obamaland  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
An American...?  David Gale | 05/15/09
You must be the twin of Obama...  adornoe@... | 05/15/09
Correction  David Gale | 05/16/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  zdnet@... | 05/15/09
...it goes further!  David Gale | 05/15/09
Total BS  windozefreak | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  theriginalgeekmom | 05/15/09
Obama and business  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  rparker009 | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  rparker009 | 05/15/09
I would think Obama has bigger fish to fry than  US Is ! Europe-ThankGod! | 05/15/09
OSS Proponents - own worst enemy  mlambert890@... | 05/15/09
Open source and F/OSS  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
sorry i am confused  vachi | 05/15/09
Because their teachers say so  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  ilnaras | 05/15/09
Flame War!  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
LMAO!!!  James T. Kirk | 05/15/09
Yes, but Obama...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  StoneSatellite | 05/15/09
Hate to break this to you...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Hate to break this to you...  StoneSatellite | 05/15/09
bah....  sir_cheats_alot@... | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  Catalonia | 05/15/09
Ummm... I Didn't Know Torture Was Part of This Topic  Tracy_Barber@... | 05/15/09
Maybe long ZDNet threads are a form of torture?  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
Hehe...  Tracy_Barber@... | 05/15/09
Dana, you disappoint me  ShermB | 05/17/09
That's the point  jbroche18 | 05/18/09
Who gives a rat?  Narg | 05/15/09
Apparently you do...  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  Returningking.com | 05/15/09
It's very important  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  MatzG | 05/15/09
WTF does Open Source software have to do  unclefixer@... | 05/15/09
Open Source vs. FOSS  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/15/09
PS- If you're so angry at the RIAA and MPAA  unclefixer@... | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  davotnz@... | 05/15/09
RE: Where does Obama stand on open source?  kordoniss@... | 05/16/09
Pool of Siloam  DanaBlankenhornZDNet Moderator | 05/16/09
I really don't care what obama thinks about open source...  shadfurman | 05/18/09
Two kinds of creators  CodeCurmudgeon | 05/18/09

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