a data licensing problem

[John Cowan]

Brian DeSpain scripsit:

> What's the problem? Simply specify that open source applications can use 
> the data while any closed source application must get an appropriate. 
> It's open if it's open and closed if it's closed. The Sleepycat license 
> is here
> http://www.opensource.org/licenses/sleepycat.php

Yes, but a work that uses the Sleepycat libraries is clearly a derivative
work of Sleepycat, at least if it does static linking.  Saying that there
exists *data* that only open-source applications can access is like trying
to insist (by legal, not technical, means) that your page on the WWW is
only to be read by people with Mozilla (etc.) browsers, and not IE browsers.
How do you manage to enforce such a thing?

-- 
And through this revolting graveyard of the universe the muffled, maddening
beating of drums, and thin, monotonous whine of blasphemous flutes from
inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond Time; the detestable pounding
and piping whereunto dance slowly, awkwardly, and absurdly the gigantic
tenebrous ultimate gods --  the blind, voiceless, mindless gargoyles whose soul
is Nyarlathotep. (Lovecraft) John Cowan|jcowan at reutershealth.com|ccil.org/~cowan
--
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