PuppyFeb 4
Alice Averlong🏳️‍⚧️

It has been ZERO DAYS since some GPL'd software made me "agree" to the GPL while installing it.

The GPL is not that kind of license: You don't need to agree to it. Agreeing to it changes nothing.

This just happens because installers have a premade "license" page and the GPL license seems like a natural fit.

But there's no point: You need to notify the user the software is GPL, but that's all.

Feb 4 at 4:41amWeb
Show threadColinFeb 4
@foone Now I want to make an installer that asks if you agree the licence is the GPL. And possibly random other licences. Maybe multiple choices and refuses to run if you identify it wrong like old school copy protection.
Show threadDaniel CarosoneFeb 4
@abstractcode @foone GAPTCHA
Show threadmhoyeFeb 4
@uep @abstractcode @foone Select all the parts of this program that come with no warranty express or implied. Select all the parts of this program that come with no guarantee of fitness for purpose.
Show threadAdam R. WoodFeb 4
@abstractcode @foone That's starting to sound like that game Agreeee that's been doing the rounds lately https://store.steampowered.com/app/3757210/Agreeee/
Agreeee on Steam

Can you 'play' this game!? To play the thrilling action game, you must agree to all 12 terms and conditions.

Show threadCRYSTL ⬡Feb 4
@foone i've always found it funny when some random foss software does that
Show thread🌸 Bisexual Flower 🐀Feb 4
This raises an interesting question. Would a variant of the GPL that is otherwise identical, but requires that the user consent to the terms of the GPL in order to use the software, still be considered free software? In theory, this could be seen as restricting the user's freedom to run the software as they wish.
Show thread Kiri Feb 5
@Alex Wait, doesn't that mean that, in the scenario shown above, the installer is automatically non-compliant with any existing GPL versions? Or is there a valid argument of "technically it isn't directly preventing you from running the program, its just refusing to install it"?
Show threadChris [list of emoji]Feb 4

@foone

I'm pretty sure you know this already, but it's almost certainly because whatever payware installer maker they were using had that as the stock license dialog and didn't make it easy to change.

I mostly mention this to once again shout out to whoever it was that hacked the "Agree" button on their GPL license box of some long-ago installer to read "Cool!".

Show threadBongmasterFeb 4
@foone change it to "□ I understand" mebe XD
Show threadOlivier MehaniFeb 4
@foone There should be a single button on the page, that says “Thank you”
Show threaddynamyc 🌷 Feb 4
@foone I mean, it DOES notify you pretty upfront. And you agree to using a software with the GPL license attached to it :3

(Yeah it's stupid and it's really hard to spin it around in a way that it could make sense)
Show threadQoleFeb 4
@foone
yes but is it pronounced jippel or gippel?
Show threadQoleFeb 4
@foone
do you accept the gippel into your heart as your lord and savior?
Show threadlnlFeb 4

@foone

5. You are not required to accept this License, since you have not signed it. […]

Show threadTerrorBite 🦁Feb 26

@lnl @foone to be fair,

However, nothing else grants you permission to modify or distribute the Program or its derivative works. These actions are prohibited by law if you do not accept this License.

By not installing unless the licence is accepted, it's preventing users from shooting themselves in the foot and putting themselves at legal risk. However, users should have the freedom to shoot themselves in the foot if they so wish.

Edit: never mind, the acceptance is explicitly stated to be indicated by modifying the software. I take this back.

Show threadlnlFeb 26
@TerrorBite @foone shooting how? The licence doesn't put absolutely any legal requirements on someone just executing the code. (This is not a legal advice)
Show threadTerrorBite 🦁Feb 26
@lnl @foone Yeah, after looking deeper I'm retracting this statement.
Show threadGothPandaFeb 4
@foone would it just be better to change the "I accept" checkbox to say "I have seen this"?
Show threadSteveFeb 4
@foone it has been almost 2 weeks since I’ve “agreed” to the GPL, coincidently I’ve been traveling for the same period
Show threadThe Polish DispatchFeb 4
@foone Fun fact: when I was much much younger and was only beginning to interact with open source software, having previously mostly been exposed to restrictive and threatening EULAs, I was trying to read and comprehend attached GPL licenses, expecting to find some sort of a catch, or a small print, I would trip on sometime in the future.
Show threadMaypop the DragonFeb 4
@foone personally i find it kind of nice to have a gpl jumpscare in an installer because where i'd usually expect to see "you owe us your firstborn and all of your skin" i see the gpl. idk
Show threadmmu_manFeb 4
@foone you basically agree to it by not breaking it 🤷
Show threadNeko MayFeb 4
@foone I mean, it does succeed in notifying you it's GPL, at least
Show threadAshFeb 4
@foone ok but what about the MIT license
Show threadSym (public node) Feb 4
@foone I actually like that they do this, so I can explicitly break the GPL license instead of just ignoring it.
Show threadKaitlyn~EthyliaFeb 4
@foone I appreciate that this post avoids the usual lampooning and is largely just informational. I'm a little sick of fedi shaming people who don't know things
Show threadAlice Averlong🏳️‍⚧️Feb 5
@KaitlynEthylia yeah that was intentional. it was also an attempt to avoid a bunch of "well what about?" "why do you hate the GPL" "why is this wrong?" follow ups, so I overexplained :)
Show threadMaeFeb 5
@foone wouldn't the as-is clause be a better fit there