Raghavendra Bhat wrote:
Now that the Playfair issue has cropped up somewhere hereabouts, I request you to read the AUTHORS file which comes alongwith the source code of Playfair.
Some prefer to remain anonymous because they are ANONYMOUS COWARDS; some others remain faceless, just out of fear; some others remain invisible because they can give more if they are Free. ;-)
Have they really given more? Where is the code of the invisible Author(s)? It's gone before I could ever see it.
Having said that, it is only fair to say this too:
Section 23 of the Copyright Act provides copyright protection to anonymous or pseudonymous works for a term of 60 years from the date of publishing, and where the author becomes known, for a term of 60 years from the date of death of the author. Anyone who has a copy of a program that has already been published and licensed under the GPL could again distribute and publish it under the terms of the GPL. A developer who already has a copy of the software could release a better version under the GPL. The publishers and developers who redistribute the software may probably face needless harassment while exercising this right and freedom. The free software publishers and developers may probably seek injunctions or restraint orders against people who threaten their right and freedom. The invisible authors make themselves free by shifting the burden of responsibility upon others, and if there are brave GNU hearts who are ready to willingly bear this, none can have cause to complain.
But, we are not like computer code that will act only upon directives included in the header - we have several levels of consciousness, and we can use the basic principles behind free software at all times to take correct decisions. If the code can be free and open - is it too difficult for the author to openly disclose his own name and identity? "A person should aspire to live an upright life openly with pride"- RMS in http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html If authors of free software take pride in their works openly, they would make free software shine better.
Regards, Ramanraj.