[ale] The risk of proprietary code: unemployment

[Michael D. Hirsch]

Don Marti (Editor of the Linux Journal) has these interesting thoughts in 
todays "Aspire to Crudeness" email about an often overlooked risk to 
proprietary code:

   You've probably seen a lot of speculation about the SCO v. IBM
   lawsuit, so I'll spare you mine. But I would like to point out one
   almost certain long-term consequence of this mess. IBM is a big
   company with good lawyers, and they have the kind of precautions in
   place that keep one group from peeking at copyrighted or NDA-covered
   code that's exclusive to another group. Other companies aren't like
   that, and they will be cleaning house and setting up IBM-like fences.

   Companies will have to take a closer look at which developers have
   seen other people's proprietary source code and avoid those people.
   When the next litigious company comes around, Management is going to
   want to show a clear set of rules demonstrating it couldn't possibly
   have infringed a software copyright even if it wanted to. That will
   mean more detailed forms to fill out when you look for a job, and
   unfortunately, it will lead to more age discrimination. If you've seen
   proprietary source code that competes with your prospective
   employer's, you're pre-contaminated. Tainted. A lawsuit magnet.

   It's summer break from college. If you're in Computer Science, and
   you're going back to a school that has Shared Source or other
   NDA-based access to source code, you'd better get hired by the one
   company whose code it is. Otherwise, be prepared to look for a job at
   Borders or Noah's Bagels.

   If you want to be generally employable, stay away from educational
   institutions that are willing to taint you by showing you proprietary
   code.

   --
   Don Marti:
 
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