A3LillyEdwardsWisnesky

A3LillyEdwardsWisnesky

To Do

• please work as a group (minimum: 2 members; max: 6 members) and submit one answer as a group (clearly identifying the members of your group)
• identify one focused topic within the chapter which is of greatest interest to your group!
• each group member: should identify one additional source relevant to the topic chosen!
• each group: provide a two page max summary statement in our course environment (mention the additional resources identified)
• prepare a short presentation to the class for the class meeting on Sept 17! the groups can choose how to present their results (oral only; use slides; one member, several members, or all members); time allocation (will be dependent of the numbers of groups: but somewhere between 4 and 10 minutes)

Form for your response

1. Herbert Simon

Joe Lilly, Pierce Edwards, Jacob Wisnesky

2. Most interesting idea/concept you learned from the article?

We decided to explore the implication of the General Public License, GPL, and human relationships and activities. The GPL is a framework in which the author or authors of the source code agree to allow the end users unfettered access and unrestricted ability to change the functionality of the product. The implication of the GPL is to allow ideas that have been created by some group of programmers to be reworked and reused in new and interesting ways. This then allows the community to grow and thrive on ideas and products that would otherwise be unavailable.

This however does have a few drawbacks. When a piece of software is released under the GPL the original author no longer has control over how the software is used. Also, it allows anyone to view the source code. This means that users who have disingenuous motives have a greater ability to exploit the product for their own personal gain.

The GPL is not widely accepted by all developers. The biggest concern is that the GPL does not properly protect intellectual property. Also, the GPL is generally not feasible for most corporations. However the Mozilla Corporation has broken the mold and has a valid business model that actually implements the GPL successfully.

Also, there is a spiritual successor to the GPL that encompasses all media. It is called the Creative Commons License. This license, however, also allows the creator to reserve all, some or no rights with their work. It shares the same ideals of taking the artists original creation and allowing others to create using that foundation.

All of these licenses provide frameworks where it is not only possible to donate but encourages further donations. They provide a secure foundation for users to distribute creations and information to the global community at large. It allows the donation of ideas while using legal structures to ensure that those ideas are respected and maintained.

3. articulate what you did not understand in the article but it sounded interesting and you would like to know more about it

GNU General Public License -- Pierce Edwards

Mozilla -- Joe Lilly

Creative Commons -- Jacob Wisnesky