[alicebot-general] Essential concerns about bots on IM networks

[Dr. Rich Wallace]

Some people have misinterpreted the warning about AIML bots on MSN
networks as an attack on open source developers.  As a long-time veteran
of the free software movement, I hope that those who know me well will see
through the purpose of such misinformation.

Let's look at this another way.  Suppose you are the owner or employee of
company XYZ, Inc.  XYX is a corporation and MSN is a corporation and so is
AOL and so is Yahoo.  Show me in the AOL TOS where it says its okay to put
bots on their network, let alone free AIML chat bots, let alone free aiml
chat bots downloaded by XYZ.   Normally, in the real business world, if
XYZ wants bots on AOL IM, the two companies sit down and negotiate a
contract.  Money changes hands.  AOL discloses the latest up to date
proprietary protocols to XYZ and XYZ agrees, among many other things, not
to unleash malware on unsuspecting AOL customers.   This is how the bot
SmarterChild came into existence on AOL IM for example.  It was "above
board" and the product of a contract negotiated between AOL and one of our
competitors.

When I say, "download with care", I'm saying think carefully about what
you plan to do with this amazing new technology of being able to trick
people in IM chat rooms, without necessarily the permission of the hosting
service provider to do so, and what are the consequences.  Frankly I don't
care to think of the consequences to the A.I. Foundation, when the bot
identifies me as the botmaster, the A.I. Foundation as its home, and our
website as the source for its download.  I don't really know the answer. 
I haven't studied the AOL, MSN, Yahoo or Google Chat Terms of Service.

Anyone who says I'm against free software has understood what I meant in
some other way reflecting his or her own agenda.