10%, Set 02/02/04, to be completed by 23/02/04.
According to the Business Software
Alliance, Global software Piracy Study, June 2003, the rate of software piracy has
remained at over 35% since 1994 with rates of over 90% in Vietnam, China and
some CIS states (but not Russia and the Ukraine). Losses (whatever that means)
are given in the BSA report (http://global.bsa.org/globalstudy/2003_GSPS.pdf)
as being over $5 billion in the Asia/Pacific region, over $3.2 billion in
Western Europe, and $2.3 billion in North America.
On the grounds that a good law
should be enforceable, there would thus seem to be a case for the proposition
that “software should be free” (see for example: Richard Stallman, http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/shouldbefree.html)
which some have proposed on ethical grounds and on the basis that, for example,
copyrighting software does not reflect the purposes for which copyright was
envisaged in the US constitution.
Write a report of approximately 2000
– 2500 words (equivalent to ~ 5- 6 pages, 1.5 spacing, 12 point say) on the
proposition that “Software should be free”. In your report you should define
what is meant by “free software” and consider the proposition from:
standpoint and any other viewpoints
you think relevant. Your report should also include discussion of the
advantages and disadvantages of the principle, were it to be adopted, and, if
so, whether it should apply to all software, or just to particular kinds of
software. If the latter, to what kinds of software should it apply and why?
Your views should be supported as far as possible by evidence, which should be cited, either by giving a link or a reference. A good place to start is the BSA source (http://global.bsa.org/globalstudy/). Many other links can easily be found by use of google, but beware that this is a large topic with much available of dubious value so try to select material of good provenance.
B F Buxton
11/3/03