Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- PJ and Casino machines

[Alexander Terekhov]

-------
Authored by: bloggsie on Wednesday, August 02 2006 @ 05:27 AM EDT
PJ: Please consider for one moment this situation. You are running an
organization which collects sensitive data from a large network of many
thousands of machines. They are set up to deliver the numbers, in a very
timely fashion, to a central repository. Remember that these machines
collect sensitive data, upon which decisions of real consequence will be
made. Now please remember that because they are networked they could
well be interfered with, in spite of the best will in the world and with
all precautions taken. The only way for you to be able to trust this
veritable army of machines is for you to test that each and every one
has not been interferred with in such a way that it corrupts the data it
records. The only way I know of to guarantee this is to make sure that
the program running in the machines reports a crypto hash of the
contents of its program memory via a cryptographically secure
communications channel. If my understanding of the GPLV3 is correct, and
I sincerely believe it is, GPLV3, in effect prohibits the use of GPL
software in, for example: Voting machines; EFTPOS and cash dispensing
terminals; Casino machines; etc., etc.

PJ, Whilst I appreciate your concern for individual freedoms. Is that
really what you want? 
-------

regards,
alexander.