1. A Promise Broken

From their inception in the mid-1980s, personal computers have carried the torch of digital liberation to the masses of computer users across the globe. Computing power once deemed unthinkable by the world's wealthiest institutions now lay at the hands of ordinary people, transforming their lives and increasing their productivity to previously inconceivable levels.

As the decades went on, the personal computer delivered on its promise time and time again as its operational capabilities increased, while costs became readily affordable to even greater numbers of prospective users. Multimedia applications became commonplace, with interactive gaming experiences carving out an artistic genre that captivated the imaginations of millions, who looked on in amazement at what the humble box of transistors and lights could do at their command. It wasn't long before the computer became indispensable both at home and at work, cementing once and for all its place as one of humanity's greatest accomplishments to date.

Then, something happened. What was once a novelty in the truest sense of the word now became a household and office appliance, treated as little more than an instrument to get things done -- things which, in and of themselves, had little to do with computing, but which nonetheless relied on it for expediency. For many, this transformation was hailed as inevitable; even desirable, as the mass-adoption of computing technology made for greater profits in the long run, both inside and outside of the computer industry.

For many others, this gradual transformation from technological marvel into appliance saw the betrayal of the personal computer and its full potential as an educational and creative tool. The once-magical relationship between the computer and its operator was also affected and not for the better.

2. A Question of Ownership

The increasing disparity between the average computer user and their machine can be traced to a single point of contention: ownership. The question must be asked: Whose machine really is it? Or, more precisely, what does it really mean to own one's computer?

The answer is complicated, because when it comes to owning a computing system, it is not sufficient to own merely the physical machine itself -- one must also own the software necessary to make that machine go. Without it, the computer might as well be a very expensive doorstop, for it possesses no capacity for self-programming; it will not know what to do unless told by a piece of software residing within it. Whoever owns the rights to that piece of software owns your computer by extension and that someone is not you -- it is the software vendor you purchased that software from.

3. A Logical Solution

Here at Open Source Laboratories, we believe that owning the software you purchase should be akin to owning a piece of physical hardware. That means the software should be legal to possess unconditionally, to transfer to a third party on a whim, and to be able to install and use it without having to ask our permission to do so. While we fully retain the intellectual property rights to all the software we sell, we nonetheless licence it in a way that permits our users to treat said software as though they beheld it; no differently than they might possess a car, a house, or the very computer upon which the software is ultimately installed.

By allowing our users to own the software they purchase from us, we offer a viable alternative to how software products are commercially licensed today. With daily existence now more inextricably linked with computing technology than ever before, it is imperative that the rights and responsibilities of computer users and software vendors alike become well-defined. The very notion of human liberty may depend on it and the lines hitherto drawn so carelessly in the sand by the major players simply won't do anymore.

Reclaim your digital freedom by ridding yourself of the shackles of exploitative licensing schemes that have become so common in the last decade. Own the things that you buy. Buy the things that you pay for. Be part of the solution and the problem will solve itself.