The Social Disutility of Software Ownership

Software ownership allows the owner to restrict the distribution of software and to prevent others from reading the software’s source code and building upon it. However, free software is released to users under software licenses that give them the right to read the source code, modify it, reuse it, and distribute the software to others. Proponents of free software such as Richard M. Stallman and Eben Moglen argue that the social disutility of software ownership is a sufficient justification for prohibiting it. This social disutility includes the social instability of disregarding laws and agreements covering software use and distribution, inequality of software access, and the inability to help others by sharing software with them. Here I consider these and other social disutility claims against withholding specific software rights from users, in particular, the rights to read the source code, duplicate, distribute, modify, imitate, and reuse portions of the software within new programs. I find that generally while withholding these rights from software users does cause some degree of social disutility, only the rights to duplicate, modify and imitate cannot legitimately be denied to users on this basis. The social disutility of withholding the rights to distribute the software, read its source code and reuse portions of it in new programs is insufficient to prohibit software owners from denying them to users. A compromise between the software owner and user can minimise the social disutility of withholding these particular rights from users. However, the social disutility caused by software patents is sufficient for rejecting such patents as they restrict the methods of reducing social disutility possible with other forms of software ownership.     

Software review

Summary Riddle Mysteries is a useful tool for teachers of second through fourth graders who wish to enhance their students' problem-solving capabilities. Cognitively advanced first graders with adequate reading skills are potential users as well. Only a limited knowledge on how to operate a computer is required, making it appropriate for young users. Teachers should be aware that it is relatively easy for students to avoid using problem-solving skills when operatingRiddle Mysteries as trial-and-error typing of keyboard letters alone can reveal the answer to the riddle. Moreover, due to a limited variety of items on which to apply problem-solving skills, boredom can quickly inhibit the user's motivation to think critically.     

Software review

Journal of Behavioral Education -     

Software Review

Rorschach Interpretive Assistance Program: Version 4 for Windows. John E. Exner, Jr., Irving B. Weiner, and Psychological Assessment Resources Staff. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, 1999, $595.     

Software review

Summary TheWPPSI-R Writer is a useful tool for accurate and quick scoring and interpretation of the WPPSI-R. It will serve psychologists and educators well by reducing the amount of time spent in collecting data, allowing more time for analysis and report writing. The information provided by the computer generated report can be helpful in writing reports when combined with professional judgment and other sources of data. It is the opinion of these reviewers that professionals not rely too heavily on the impersonal computerized reports, due to concerns about validity for individual cases.     

Software review

Summary The actual software that is used in theSurvival Words program is less than adequate. It is definitely not a stand-alone program. The lessons that appear on the computer are not structured effectively, and are not very interesting. However, the manual that accompanies the software offers a wide variety of instructional activities that could be very beneficial in teaching students to read sight word vocabulary. Perhaps lessons should be structured so that the group instruction described in the manual occurs before students use the software. In this way, students could use the software as another source of instruction that could assist them in maintaining skills rather than acquiring skills.     

Software review

Summary Word Works certainly provides a technological approach to creating educational worksheets. These programs ar designed to enhance instructional management and increase student vocabulary efficiently. Educators with at least word processing capability are able to operate this menudriven program.Given that the appropriateness of instructional worksheets is often bantered about the educational community, the contributions of these programs are somewhat limited. Although it is assumed by the software manufacturers that programs as such are motivating for students, the extended use of such activities are often criticized by educational experts. Further, the on-going use of worksheets is tempered by such student variables as student reading ability, students' age-grade level, and other variables.     

Software review

Summary Coin Critters has many positive attributes. This program could be used successfully if teachers were careful to monitor student performance. However,due to the nature of this program, it should only be used as a supplement to direct, effective instruction.Coin Critters should only be used for drill and practice on skills taught within the classroom.