Comments on: Defining openness: open source, open data, open APIs, open communities, and more http://infotrope.net/blog/2009/11/16/defining-openness-open-source-open-data-open-apis-open-communities-and-more/ Kirrily Robert's blog Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:12:07 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Chris K http://infotrope.net/blog/2009/11/16/defining-openness-open-source-open-data-open-apis-open-communities-and-more/comment-page-1/#comment-2934 Chris K Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:23:38 +0000 http://infotrope.net/blog/?p=450#comment-2934 Re “open but we control the process” (which indeed means it's not really open): The World Bank is another organization that uses an "open access" API with extremely restrictive conditions. That's a bank that's funded by tax dollars - there's no reason for not making all data public domain or CC-BY. As for Facebook, it's indeed about control. The sooner we have open social networking choices, the better. Thanks Re “open but we control the process” (which indeed means it’s not really open):

The World Bank is another organization that uses an “open access” API with extremely restrictive conditions. That’s a bank that’s funded by tax dollars – there’s no reason for not making all data public domain or CC-BY.

As for Facebook, it’s indeed about control. The sooner we have open social networking choices, the better.

Thanks

]]> By: James McLeod http://infotrope.net/blog/2009/11/16/defining-openness-open-source-open-data-open-apis-open-communities-and-more/comment-page-1/#comment-2923 James McLeod Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:04:01 +0000 http://infotrope.net/blog/?p=450#comment-2923 A definition of "open" is about a vague as the word "free". Like you pointed out, the meaning varies from person to person, organization to organization. I wouldn't want to try to count the number of times I've downloaded a software program that was labeled "free" only to find out it's restricted to a key (or whatever) that must be purchased in order for it to function as claimed. And, "free" is misused quite often in advertising outside of the computer world when an offer is made in conjunction with a purchase... "Buy this widget and you get the widget stand for free." No! It's not free. It's sold together. It's like saying if you buy the automobile then the tires come with it free. This is one of the reasons I've weaned myself off of Microsoft products. Staying in the Linux, Apache, Sun world, I've found better software that doesn't force me to upgrade to a supported version which is anything but stable. A definition of “open” is about a vague as the word “free”. Like you pointed out, the meaning varies from person to person, organization to organization. I wouldn’t want to try to count the number of times I’ve downloaded a software program that was labeled “free” only to find out it’s restricted to a key (or whatever) that must be purchased in order for it to function as claimed.

And, “free” is misused quite often in advertising outside of the computer world when an offer is made in conjunction with a purchase… “Buy this widget and you get the widget stand for free.” No! It’s not free. It’s sold together. It’s like saying if you buy the automobile then the tires come with it free.

This is one of the reasons I’ve weaned myself off of Microsoft products. Staying in the Linux, Apache, Sun world, I’ve found better software that doesn’t force me to upgrade to a supported version which is anything but stable.

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