In the software industry, the Free and Open Source Software (or FOSS) movement has long pushed for licenses, such as GPL and BSD, which allow code to be seen, copied, and improved upon by anyone. This is in opposition to proprietary software, in which the source code is private and under strict copyright protections. Until recently, even the state of Pennsylvania has taken such a restrictive view on licensing: driver's licenses, despite being easy to copy and modify, are placed under unnecessary and limiting restrictions.
CMU, as an institution for the promotion of knowledge, stands in opposition to anything which limits our collective enlightenment. In the world of computer science, this comes in the form of vigorous support for the FOSS movement, even in the face of great adversaries like Bill "Spiral" Gates. In order to further these ideals, CMU is proud to announce its latest project, the world's first free and open source driver's license.
Much like the GNU Public License (commonly known as GPL, or as I've recently taken to calling it, G+L), the open driver's license would use "strict copyleft". This means that, while anyone is free to derive their own copy of the license, this derivative license must also be free and open source. While making a driver's license available to every citizen, and noncitizen, and nonresident, and nonhuman entity, of Pennsylvania comes with some challenges, it also brings opportunity. "I like how I can customize so many of the details," said one 19 year old who we interviewed purchasing several cases of beer. At the scene of a tragic automobile crash just outside, we interviewed a 12-year old computer whiz, who was shaken and badly bruised, but very enthusiastic about the program.
Given the hugely positive reception of the open source driver's license, CMU is now looking into several spin-off projects, including MIT-licensed MIT engineering degrees.
