Why GitHub #Copilot doesnโt violate free software licences
๐ https://forgoodeyesonly.codeberg.page/blog/2022/07/why-github-copilot-doesnt-violate-free-licences
#GitHubโs new code completion is an #AI trained using #FreeSoftware. Many see this as a copyright infringement of #copyleft licences, but this is dangerous half-knowledge. Read here why this is the case and why stricter #copyright law wonโt get us anywhere.
#foss #license #licence #microsoft
๐ https://forgoodeyesonly.codeberg.page/blog/2022/07/why-github-copilot-doesnt-violate-free-licences
#GitHubโs new code completion is an #AI trained using #FreeSoftware. Many see this as a copyright infringement of #copyleft licences, but this is dangerous half-knowledge. Read here why this is the case and why stricter #copyright law wonโt get us anywhere.
#foss #license #licence #microsoft
Why GitHub Copilot doesnโt violate free software licences
GitHubโs new code completion is an AI trained using free software. Many see this as a copyright infringement of copyleft licences, but this is dangerous half-knowledge.forgoodeyesonly.codeberg.page
This entry was edited (11 months ago)
Pixelcode Apps :verified:โ
•Pixelcode Apps :verified:โ
•1. Since we're #FOSS developers, our tools should be #FreeSoftware too.
2. Monopolies are never a good idea.
3. By using a walled garden, we're excluding potential contributors.
4. By using #Microsoft products, we're supporting a producer of #tracking malware and an #NSA collaborator.
Instead, we should switch to #Git platforms running @gitea, such as @codeberg. Also, @dachary and others are already working hard on #forge federation in the @forgefriends project.
Read more on the #ForGoodEyesOnly blog: https://forgoodeyesonly.codeberg.page/blog/2022/07/why-github-copilot-doesnt-violate-free-licences/#why-we-should-still-giveupgithub
Why GitHub Copilot doesnโt violate free software licences
forgoodeyesonly.codeberg.pageJak2k
•@gitea @codeberg @dachary @forgefriends
fedops ๐๐
•Whether or not Github's ToS override license files the author added to the code is an interesting point. If they indeed do then the code authors are at fault for not catching that when creating their projects there and trusting their license agreement would be honored by both users as well as Github themselves.
Pixelcode Apps :verified:โ
•Yes, developers should be very careful about creating forks of copyleft-licensed on third-party platforms. In contrast, permissive licences don't introduce such problems in the first place.
fedops ๐๐
•Unless there's a court decision (which I doubt there is) I'd say for example GPLv3 5a) and 5b) apply to anything non-trivial derived from Foss code taken from any repo.
The fact that they don't even attempt to keep track of which repo it was taken from and what license applied at the time leaves an additional sour taste.
I'd like to see someone change the license post-mortem and sue them for damages.
Pixelcode Apps :verified:โ
•If the โderivedโ work doesn't contain an actual excerpt from the original code, in Germany this usage falls under ยง 44b UrhG which allows โtext and data miningโ; meaning that creating (non-trivial) works based on the *analysis* of copyright-protected code is not a copyright infringement, so there's no need to comply with the GPL in this case.
If the derived work does, in fact, contain actual excerpts from the original code, then it depends on whether those excerpts themselves reach a level of artistic creation that is high enough to fulfill the requirements of ยง 69a UrhG for copyright protection as a computer program: https://forgoodeyesonly.codeberg.page/blog/2022/07/why-github-copilot-doesnt-violate-free-licences/#copilot-outputs-dont-reach-the-necessary-level-of-creation
Why GitHub Copilot doesnโt violate free software licences
forgoodeyesonly.codeberg.pagefedops ๐๐
•What I'm wondering (and IANAL which is why I'm asking about precedence) is whether this actually even falls under copyright law. Since we're not talking about copyright protection but what I would call legitimate use within the license established by the code author.
But I really don't know. All I know is don't trust microsoft, ever.
Pixelcode Apps :verified:โ
•fedops ๐๐
•Jonathan Lamothe
like this
Pixelcode Apps :verified:โ and fedops ๐๐ like this.
Jonathan Lamothe
In order to supercede the GPL, you need the consent of every single contributor to the project.
Pixelcode Apps :verified:โ
•Why GitHub Copilot doesnโt violate free software licences
forgoodeyesonly.codeberg.page