Developing Open Source Defense Projects 388
An anonymous reader writes "I'm a developer looking to develop an open source surface-to-air missile guidance system, with the aim of helping developing nations develop low-cost missile defense systems to aid them against attack by the warplanes of invading forces. However, given the very nature of the project, I feel I may be walking into a bit of a minefield regarding the legalities of such a project, since, as I'm sure you can imagine, this project could easily benefit hostile nations was well as relatively peaceful ones! Unfortunately, since Google does not seem to shed much light on the subject, I'd be very interested in hearing Slashdot's views on the matter, especially some advice from those in the know about the legal matters - whether there would be any restrictions (exports, perhaps?) or whether it would be simply plain illegal to develop!"
No, think of the horrible consequences! (Score:5, Funny)
Imagine what will happen if the Terrans start building Protoss cannons that can strike ground and air targets, or the Zerg start equipping Zerglings with stimpacks! The results would... be...
Wait, was that just a computer game?
Re:No, think of the horrible consequences! (Score:3, Interesting)
The Protoss guns ARE already capable of hitting ground-and-air targets...
Actually, IIRC if you look carefully at the box-cover picture of the original release of Starcraft, you can see that the terran tanks *could* hit air targets as well, instead of only ground-only, which must have really messed up the game balance
Re:No, think of the horrible consequences! (Score:2)
I meant as opposed to the Terran missle turrets that could only strike air targets.
I should have used another example, like Terrans using the Protoss Mind Control abilities or something.
The tanks should've had machine guns on them for shooting at air targets.
Re:No, think of the horrible consequences! (Score:3, Redundant)
Re:No, think of the horrible consequences! (Score:2)
Re:No, think of the horrible consequences! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:No, think of the horrible consequences! (Score:5, Funny)
Shut up and pay attention to what's happening on the screen, Ender.
Re:No, think of the horrible consequences! (Score:5, Funny)
Obvious answer (Score:3, Funny)
The DOD is just like Sun... (Score:2)
My God. Think of the Beta Testers! (Score:5, Funny)
Beta Testing your product will sure be a bitch, and it will be hard to keep good beta testers.
Just the opposite (Score:5, Funny)
As your code improves, it will increasingly weed out the beta testers who are not quite good enough. The really good beta testers will improve as your code improves, and will take your improvments as just the motivation they need to keep on improving.
Your product will be ready for release when you run out of beta testers.
Re:Just the opposite (Score:4, Interesting)
Reminds me of David Brent's [The Office, BBC] recruitment policy: bin half the CVs (resumes) - that way you only employ lucky people ;)
You're pretty much guarenteed that you'll only have lucky beta-testers at the end of the process...
Your product will be ready for release when you run out of beta testers.
On the other hand...
What's wrong with missile command? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What's wrong with missile command? (Score:3, Interesting)
Another.... (Score:3, Funny)
Can we have a real story now?
Re:Another.... (Score:3, Funny)
Not so fast buddy. He was asking for Open Source to be USED for making such a system. Unless he's DISTRIBUTING such system, GPL does not force him/her to open source resulting system, so source could very well remain closed; only army using the system having access to source code.
I guess one could argue that firing a missile that contains Open Source code would constitute distribut
Re:Another.... (Score:2)
We all already know that Open Source Defense Projects is an oxymoron, you know source has to be closed to be truely secure.
How true is that really? In cryptography, I'd guess there are only a handful of nations for whom "security-through-obscurity" is possible: the USA and their echelon partners (Canada, UK, Australia, NZ), France (maybe? They can afford their own nuclear defence programme) and a few others.
I'd guess most countries buy defense equipment from partners and allies - and pray that their f
A solution (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, I also need to mention that OSHITS is GPL-compliant, so feel free to modify it in any way you'd like. It can be found at OSHITS.com [blowshitup.com]*
The OSHITS protocol suite has also been through the legal ringer, in both the EU and the US.
In fact, the Supreme Court and the UN Tribunal Council both agreed, OSHITS is legal and quite good for use. Thanks and have a great day.
*web address doesn't render properly on IE. User must use an old version of Netscape.
Re:A solution (Score:2, Funny)
Re:A solution (Score:2)
Now, don't get me wrong here. I have no problem with VillianSupply selling GPL apps. But they should comply with the GPL. I should be able to request or download source for any GPL app their DoomMA product uses.
That... and considering how pissy George Lucus got over the who
Not a bad thought (Score:2, Insightful)
Otherwise, I'd love to see such a system out there. I've always drafted up ideas for tanks, planes, missile guidence systems, but being in the US, there's no way I could ever develop them.
Re:Not a bad thought (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Not a bad thought (Score:2)
Re:Not a bad thought (Score:2)
Re:Not a bad thought (Score:2)
All countries, where any weapons are developed (privately or otherwise) heavily regulate such development.
Rawbl gur erfg bs gur Ncevy 1fg.
IANAL (Score:2)
The story seem credible up until that part :o)
Amendment II (Score:5, Insightful)
Now lets party.
Re:Amendment II (Score:5, Funny)
This whole time I thought it meant you can wear short sleeves or tank tops...
Re:Amendment II (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Amendment II (Score:2)
Now for good looking wimmen....mmmm.... tank tops!
SB
Re:Amendment II (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Amendment II (Score:2)
I won't be happy until I have the right to arm bears.
Maybe even with lazers.
Janet's right to Bare Breasts (Score:2)
Re:Janet's right to Bare Breasts (Score:2)
I guess it's a good thing TV still stands by the old sitcom model of '8 Bits Is Enough'
Re:Guided Missiles (Score:2)
The idea is to shoot off a rocket and intercept another rocket or aircraft.
1.) Its like hitting a baseball with a needle as its about to go over the fence.
2.) It can't be radio control, radio waves are easily jammed/over powered, you don't want script kiddies hacking into them either.
3.) Its not like anyone could pilot one via RC and actually hit anything. (Its moving too fast and its hitting too small of a target)
As for building one for less than $1000,
In The Name Of All That Is Holy (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:In The Name Of All That Is Holy (Score:2)
Re:In The Name Of All That Is Holy (Score:2)
Instead, all you can do is complain? If it bugs you then just don't read slashdot today. No one is twisting your arm to do so, and it's not like April Fool's stories are new to Slashdot.
I'd like to demand a filter for posts from whiney folks that can't take a joke or see an opportunity for an interesting discussion.
Re:In The Name Of All That Is Holy (Score:5, Funny)
I personally wish that we were allowed to beat sensless anyone who is grumpy today and has no sense of humor... Lik the IT manager in the other 1/2 of the building that deals with that department only.. he didnt like the completely smashed laptop on his desk with a note stating... "it just stopped working, I dont know what happened... can you fix it?" (amazing what a semi truck over a laptop can do
the jerk came over to our devision started screaming about destruction of company property until the regional VP asked him if we have EVER had toshiba laptops in the building.... he shut up walking off mumbling that it was not funny.
so I suggest that you avoid slashdot until April 5th.
we could call it april fools pummling day!
Re:In The Name Of All That Is Holy (Score:2)
Re:In The Name Of All That Is Holy (Score:2)
I love teh april fools! (Score:2, Funny)
I suggest (Score:2)
Those estes rockets are really cheap.
Crash course (Score:2, Funny)
1. Post article on Slashdot on April 1st
2. ???
3. Profit!
bats (Score:4, Funny)
ObPython (Score:2)
What's really wrong is... (Score:5, Funny)
Call a REAL Lawyer (Score:2)
That being said, how much help is the software without precision aviation hardware? And wouldn't the software you write be tied to some particular hardware that may or may not be hard for a typical nation's defense forces to obtain?
Those are my thoughts.
April fool... (Score:2, Redundant)
perhaps someone here chould develop a ground-to-slashdot editor missile system so we can get on with the regular dupes and SCO stories?
uninspired (Score:2)
Good Book (Score:2)
I can't remember what's on the cover.
Naw.. it's not a problem (Score:3, Funny)
What's it gonna be called? (Score:4, Funny)
or GMissile?
Beta testers are sure gonna be a hard thing to find when bugs crop up.
Re:What's it gonna be called? (Score:5, Funny)
Par for the course (Score:5, Insightful)
"I'm a moron. How can I be less of a moron? Should I not be a moron at all? Or should I be even more moronic?" (bitchslapping ensues, mostly by those too bored to restrain themselves)
ITAR (Score:5, Informative)
The answer to the question is of course: ITAR, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which is detailed here: http://pmdtc.org/reference.htm
"127.1 Violations.
(a) It is unlawful:
(1) To export or attempt to export
from the United States any defense article
or technical data or to furnish
any defense service for which a license
or written approval is required by this
subchapter without first obtaining the
required license or written approval
from the Office of Defense Trade Controls;"
Re:ITAR (Score:2)
I hear ALLLLLLLL too much about this stuff from my wife. It's very cool. Just not every damn day.
ITAR/EAR not necessarily applicable. (Score:3, Informative)
I am not a lawyer.
Top 10 Open Source Defense Projects (Score:5, Funny)
9. The Gentoo Torpedo
8. *BSD WMD (this one is buried deep so you can't find it)
7. SDI SDK
6. The *real* Mozilla: a 600' tall flame-breathing Japanese monster.
5. Neutron GAIM
4. The BeoWulfowitz Cluster
3. Sun OpenWarfare project
2. The Doomsday Linux
1. Cmdr Taco
Re:Top 10 Open Source Defense Projects (Score:2)
Of course, he might qualify as a WMD, or be banned under the Helsinki convention.
Outsource it to India. (Score:2, Funny)
Federal Government does not have a sense of humor (Score:2)
Maybe you should try making fun of a bunch of sissies that can't do anything about it. Maybe a nice Canada joke? Or better yet, make fun of the stupid, like the rest of us do. At least they won't get it.
GTFM! (Score:5, Informative)
get a permit first (Score:3, Interesting)
Commoditize Terrorist's Tools (Score:3, Funny)
I like this idea because, as it stands, the price for this type of software is artificially inflated.
Right now, terrorists' funding is being stretched quite thin because of increased costs for heroin production in Afghanistan. So, anywhere that they can cut costs, they want to. Buying guided missiles from former Soviet block nations can be quite costly, and a more cost effective solution involves cutting out the middle man and building them "in-cave."
I'm not sure about legal issues, but perhaps Syria or Lebanon or other countries would be interested in supporting you. Just watch out for those pesky CIA dudes that are trying to kill your ass.
I'm wondering what the code does... (Score:5, Funny)
MOD PARENT DOWN (Score:2)
I thought the April Fool's jokes were getting out of hand, but now we're being cruel...
Re:MOD PARENT DOWN (Score:4, Funny)
Re:MOD PARENT DOWN (Score:2)
Re:I'm wondering what the code does... (Score:2)
I won't give away where the quote is from, since out-of-context it's not much of a spoiler
Re: (Score:2)
Ultimate source vs. packages challenge! (Score:5, Funny)
Munitions Export Restrictions Are Everywhere (Score:2)
Even then, you are likely to have trouble getting permission to give it to anyone else. You might have to smuggle the software out and distribute it as warez. If caught you are likely to be prosecuted as a "terrorist".
not actually illegal (Score:2)
One thing you should open-source.. (Score:2)
/. is teh suck (Score:2)
Ever heard of the Gerald Bull Supercanon project? (Score:4, Interesting)
a suggestion... (Score:2)
Are You Stupid? (Score:2)
We can't get a missile defense system working here. Imagine how embarrasing if say Iceland developed a missile defense system or even Borneo before the US of A.
Oh wait. It's an April Fool's joke. Excuse me while I bang my head on my desk.
Re:Remember the golden rule... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Remember the golden rule... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:DARPA (Score:2, Funny)
Or North Korea.
Or Canada.
Re:DARPA (Score:5, Funny)
Re:DARPA (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:DARPA (Score:3, Funny)
Re:uhm.. (Score:5, Funny)
LOOK AT THE DATE YOU BUMBLING FOOL
Re:uhm.. (Score:2)
Re:lame (Score:4, Funny)
open source ideology being mocked
Re:lame (Score:2)
(Y)ours?
No?
Didn't think so.
Oh go ahead. Flamebait? Troll?
Hasn't anyone heard of satire? (Score:5, Insightful)
My only real complaint is there are just too damn many April fools jokes on slashdot. If the majority of the stories were actually real and only a few stories were jokes it'd be much easier to put one over on everyone.
That'd be MY complaint as well.. (Score:2)
Re:Excellent Question (Score:5, Funny)
All I know is that if I were a kid in his neighborhood, I wouldn't be walking on his grass...
Re:Excellent Question (Score:5, Interesting)
the internet is knee deep in instructions on how to build and h-bomb [subterrane.com].
Re:Excellent Question (Score:5, Funny)
the internet is knee deep in instructions on how to build and h-bomb.
Dude, I'm not touching that link through ten anonymous proxy servers...
Unethical use of open source (Score:2, Funny)
There are far too many people running around who would use the technology to shoot down commercial airliners during their critical take-off and landing approaches. Knowingly allowing a technical contribution from oneself to be used for mass murder is unethical. I am not a lawy
What if it's REAL (Score:5, Informative)
Right (Score:2, Offtopic)
Because everyone knows the sword was invented after the shield.
[An open source missile defence would be its very nature be the easiest to fool, so I don't necessarily see the use.]
Just like everyone can hack OpenBSD because it's open source.
The only real problems with the plan are policitians and lawyers.
Re:Right (Score:2, Informative)
Because everyone knows the sword was invented after the shield.
No, the pilum [larp.com] was invented after the shield.
Re:lame (Score:2)
Well, on a serious note, there's no law against designing weapons systems....there are a number of small US companies that do so. However, if you want to sell it outside the US, you'd better be VERY careful to cross your T's and dot your I's and get valid export permits and documenation. They do not laugh about that at all. But, there's nothing special you have to have to develop so