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One of my students e-mailed me asking for help finding interesting
ethical issues in open source. Here’s the partial list I sent him:

• What is the fundamental ethical issue behind open source software?
  There are zealots in both the open source and closed source camps,
  but the world isn’t as black and white as people paint it. What do
  _you_ personally feel about the issue of open source? Think about
  this a great deal. I think it’ll give you an aha moment. =) This is
  something really worth writing about.
• Think about the difference between open source software and closed
  source software, and the difference between free software and
  commercial software. Note that free != open source, and commercial
  != closed source. Think about what the different combinations mean
  from the point of view of users, developers, and companies.
• Businesses would like to be able to hire fresh graduates and put
  them to work right away without having to train them in the specific
  software used in the business. Learning how to properly use a
  toolset takes a lot of time, and these companies argue that this
  kind of training should be part of students’ formal education. In
  addition, many HR personnel filter resumes based on keyword.
  Students also sometimes become restless when they’re asked to use
  languages or toolsets not seen in the job ads. As a result, there’s
  strong incentive to teach the quirks of vendor-specific products
  like Microsoft Visual Studio .NET instead of focusing on general
  ideas. This is one of the biggest barriers to open source adoption
  in schools. Should schools cater to their market, or should they
  also explore alternatives?
• Large companies complain about the unlicensed distribution and use
  of commercial software (popularly known as piracy). However, it
  actually strengthens dominant companies. For example, would we
  really be so dependent on Microsoft Office if people only used
  legitimate copies? If enough people chose not to buy Microsoft
  Office, then alternative office suites could flourish.
  Unfortunately, the unlicensed distribution and use of software means
  that other people can assume people run Microsoft Office, leading to
  a vicious cycle. What do you think about that?
• Non-trivial software programs have errors. Sometimes these
  errors are severe, exposing your system to attacks. Some major
  software vendors practice ‘security through obscurity’; security
  holes are not publicized, and the companies sometimes aggressively
  go after whistle-blowers who try to point out weaknesses in the
  software. Because the companies are the only ones with access to the
  source, they are the only ones who can fix the broken programs, and
  their resources are limited. On the other hand, open source exposes
  all source code for potential audit. This means that other
  organizations and developers can examine the code for security
  errors, which often results in faster fixes when an exploit is
  actually discovered. On the other hand, it also means that crackers
  who want to exploit systems can find holes more easily. What do you
  think about disclosure versus non-disclosure?
• Many people in the Philippines are not completely comfortable with
  English. We are too small a market for multinational companies to
  develop Tagalog versions, but some volunteers have been working on
  translating open source software. This has met with mixed reactions.
  Some people say that localizing software for the Philippines is a
  waste of time and students should get used to English versions right
  away; others say that localization is the key to helping more
  Filipinos get into information technology. What do you think?
• Closed source software tends to optimize for number of features and
  ease of use, because that’s what draws customers. It makes common
  things easier. Open source software often comes with a high learning
  curve but focuses on power and security, making it easier for people
  to use it to fit their individual needs. Think about the different
  markets for open source and closed source software, particularly in
  terms of security. What are the implications of these choices?
• Open source means there’s a lot of code out there that you can base your
  programming projects on. As a student, where should you draw the line on
  acceptable use of other people’s code?
• Closed source software often carries a “click-through license”
  severely limiting your rights and giving no warranty anyway
  (although this last part is buried in the fine print). Open source
  software tells you right away that there is no warranty. It’s kinda
  funny the way closed source companies keep criticizing the fact that
  open source software isn’t backed by a company. Look into the
  usefulness of support contracts for large and small clients. (Hah.
  Leading question. Sorry. ;) )
• What do you think about NDAs?

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