Even fully open sources software can't be "repaired" when its dependencies break. There are a wide range of programs that broke when Python 2 went away.
As for the law, any software no longer for sale, or older than 10 years old should lose all copyright/IP protection, which ever happens first. Anyone should be able to write/support a Windows XP,7 or 8 clone at this point, along with Office, Exchange, etc. up to 2012
--- Warning --
Strong message (rant) to follow
Uppity programmers calling themselves software "engineers" act in almost totally the opposite manner of a true engineering discipline. They hold "legacy" in contempt, and break things in the name of "progress" or "safety" at odds with their stated goals. They ignore the lessons of history, and keep re-inventing the same things every decade or two.
You can still plug a BC-232 radio manufactured in the late 1940s into the wall and receive broadcast signals.
You're effectively prohibited from running a web browser or telephone from 10 years ago because of planned obsolesce. This needs to stop!
As for the law, any software no longer for sale, or older than 10 years old should lose all copyright/IP protection, which ever happens first. Anyone should be able to write/support a Windows XP,7 or 8 clone at this point, along with Office, Exchange, etc. up to 2012
--- Warning --
Strong message (rant) to follow
Uppity programmers calling themselves software "engineers" act in almost totally the opposite manner of a true engineering discipline. They hold "legacy" in contempt, and break things in the name of "progress" or "safety" at odds with their stated goals. They ignore the lessons of history, and keep re-inventing the same things every decade or two.
You can still plug a BC-232 radio manufactured in the late 1940s into the wall and receive broadcast signals.
You're effectively prohibited from running a web browser or telephone from 10 years ago because of planned obsolesce. This needs to stop!