[amsat-bb] ORI receives half million dollar grant, and, it's only the first.

Bruce Perens bruce at perens.com
Fri Sep 11 17:04:56 UTC 2020


On Fri, Sep 11, 2020 at 8:29 AM Michael Tondee via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

> Is it simply just going open source  or is there more to it than that? Are
> there other stumbling blocks that  they wouldn't be comfortable with for
> some reason?


:-)

We've sort of just had this discussion, and yes AMSAT is very
uncomfortable. Running the project as clear of ITAR and EAR is a
requirement if you are going to put software out under an Open Source
license and all of your other technical documentation under a Creative
Commons license, and we have told you how to do that but people seem to be
dubious so far. This also means the project has to be free of NDAs, at
least for the funded part, and if you remember from past discussion the
board found it really offensive that the new directors wanted to know what
AMSAT's NDAs were and were inclined to get rid of them wherever possible.

Essentially, you can copy what we are doing at ORI.

But now, AMSAT is going to do that.
AMSAT will not go Open Source because it is the right thing to do.
AMSAT will not go Open Source because it allows them to collaborate with
the international AMSAT organizations, LibreSpace, and ORI.
AMSAT will not go Open Source because it provides the maximum benefit to
Radio Amateurs.
AMSAT will not go Open Source because it allows them to dispense with the
pain of ITAR and EAR compliance.
NO!
AMSAT will go Open Source because THEY ARE BEING OFFERED MONEY TO DO SO,
and THAT is the AMERICAN WAY!

    :-)

OK, excuse me for having some fun with you. But there is an element of
truth in that.

    Thanks

    Bruce


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