[Python-Dev] Add a frozendict builtin type

[Stephen J. Turnbull]

Mark Janssen writes:

 > Since there's no way (even theoretical way) to completely secure anything
 > (remember the DVD protection wars?), there's no way there should be any
 > liability if reasonable diligence is performed to provide security where
 > expected (which is probably calculable to some %-age of assets
 > protected).

That's not how the law works, sorry.  Look up "consequential damages,"
"contributory negligence," and "attractive nuisance."  I'm not saying
that anybody will lose *in* court, but one can surely be taken *to*
court.  If that happens to you, you've already lost (even if the other
side can't win).

 > Open sourcing code could be said to be a disclaimer on any liability as
 > your letting people know that you've got nothing your trying to
 > conceal.

Again, you seem to be revealing your ignorance of the law (not to
mention security -- a safe is supposed to be secure even if the
burglar has the blueprints).  A comprehensive and presumably effective
disclaimer is part of the license, but it's not clear that even that
works.  AFAIK such disclaimers are not well-tested in court.

Guido is absolutely right.  There is a risk here (not in the
frozendict type, of course), but in distributing an allegedly
effective sandbox.  I doubt Victor as an individual doing research has
a problem; the PSF is another matter.

BTW, Larry Rosen's book on Open Source Licensing is a good reference.
Andrew St. Laurent also has a book out, I like Larry's better but
YMMV.