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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
(Unverified)Jan 25th 2010 10:27AM
As you say, "[o]pen source software provides a vital building block for these oppressed and developing nations." The US knows this, and this is part of the reason why they would want sites like this to be blocked. If they are using sanctions against these countries, it only makes sense for sites like this to be blocked as well. The purpose of sanctions is to influence the country to come in line with the policies of the country issuing the sanctions.
I'm an American, but I won't speak to whether or not these policies are right or just. I'm sure everyone has their opinions on this, and they are no doubt strong. I'm not posting this to influence anyone. I just feel it's important to understand that this isn't an attack on open source software. It's just another necessary component of sanctions, good or bad.
(Unverified)Jan 25th 2010 10:39AM
My main problem is that SourceForge just HAPPENS to be American.
The code might not be American!
A French project might be held on SourceForge servers -- why should that project be under U.S. sanctions?
I know it's a very tricky subject. The whole 'Internet International Law' thing is going to come under a lot scrutiny in the coming months/years :)
(Unverified)Jan 25th 2010 11:34AM
This is true. If SourceForge is an international effort, it shouldn't be governed by the laws of an individual nation. Perhaps in lieu of some future change in the way the Internet as the whole is handled, some international player could pick up the mantle for hosting these projects out of a nation that would be less restrictive.
As always, the Internet is probably as close to a democracy as practically possible, and so if the users disagree with SourceForge's decision to comply with US sanctions, they could always take their business elsewhere. SourceForge may be one of, if not THE, premiere open-source repositories, but it doesn't mean that one or many others wouldn't step in to replace it.
NuisanceJan 31st 2010 3:43AM
Nice comment Joe, well said.
Sebastian, if the files loaded onto Sourceforge are from a French developer, and they disagree with the ban, there is a very simple solution: You host the project on another website. Sourceforge isn't the only choice. If you're using it just because it's more popular, you can still have a Sourceforge project, and a project elsewhere.