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Vegans join the open-source revolution

Open source and vegans...a match made in heaven?

Matt Asay Contributing Writer
Matt Asay is a veteran technology columnist who has written for CNET, ReadWrite, and other tech media. Asay has also held a variety of executive roles with leading mobile and big data software companies.
Matt Asay

Talk about anti-viral! The ExtTLD license has some restrictions that might make even Richard Stallman blush:

  • You agree you are not developing or manufacturing products, and where applicable their ingredients, which involve, or have involved, testing of any sort on animals conducted at the initiative of the manufacturer or on its behalf, or by parties over whom the manufacturer has effective control....

  • You agree you are not involved in or profit from the use of animals for entertainment such as circuses, hunts, rodeos and races etc.

No, I'm not making this up. Yes, this is weird in the extreme. And no, given the restrictions, this isn't open source as it "discriminates against persons or groups." Namely, carnivores and those who support them. Or is it?

Isn't this what Red Hat (and other open-source companies) does by creating additional contract terms around distribution of its GPL-licensed software? If it's acceptable for Red Hat (and I, for one, think it is), is it not acceptable when used for vegan purposes?

There's a highly interesting open source question nestled in here....