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I worry that, if Copilot-like things are ultimately declared to actually be legal, that many free software developers will withdraw their source code from publi

by teddyh 4y ago

I worry that, if Copilot-like things are ultimately declared to actually be legal, that many free software developers will withdraw their source code from public view, to avoid the code being used as mere fodder for proprietary developers to annex the code without being a part of the free software community.

l-p 4y ago
No need to worry, it's already happening. While I have not withdrawn anything (yet?), I stopped publishing new code to GitHub. I can't be the only one.
rg111 4y ago
> withdraw their source code from public view Why do this if you can just migrate to GitLab or Source Hut?
- detaro 4y ago
  why do you believe AI companies would never download code from Gitlab or sourcehut?
  - culi 4y ago
    I assume GitHub could force you to allow Copilot to use your code for training with their terms and conditions? Whereas if it's from another source the licensing of the code has to specifically allow for commercial products
    - detaro 4y ago
      Not really, since people quite often don't own the copyright of code they upload to GH, by design almost.
    - teddyh 4y ago
      > I assume GitHub could force you to allow Copilot to use your code for training with their terms and conditions? You’d think so, wouldn’t you? You’d think that at least Microsoft had some legal veneer to cover what they are doing. But no. They simply took “source code from publicly available sources, including code in public repositories on GitHub”¹ and used it. 1. https://github.com/features/copilot/#what-data-has-github-copilot-been-trained-on https://github.com/features/copilot/#what-data-has-github-co...
BrandonJung 4y ago
Does this change if the AI only uses fully permissive code? We took that approach at Tabnine and would be interested if the communities primary concern is disregard of licensing or the use of AI at all.
- teddyh 4y ago
  You could only permit it if the AI only used CC0 or Public Domain works. All other works require proper attribution, at the very least.
  - BrandonJung 4y ago
    interesting point

by teddyh 4y ago

l-p 4y ago

No need to worry, it's already happening. While I have not withdrawn anything (yet?), I stopped publishing new code to GitHub. I can't be the only one.

rg111 4y ago

> withdraw their source code from public view Why do this if you can just migrate to GitLab or Source Hut?

detaro 4y ago
why do you believe AI companies would never download code from Gitlab or sourcehut?
- culi 4y ago
  I assume GitHub could force you to allow Copilot to use your code for training with their terms and conditions? Whereas if it's from another source the licensing of the code has to specifically allow for commercial products
  - detaro 4y ago
    Not really, since people quite often don't own the copyright of code they upload to GH, by design almost.
  - teddyh 4y ago
    > I assume GitHub could force you to allow Copilot to use your code for training with their terms and conditions? You’d think so, wouldn’t you? You’d think that at least Microsoft had some legal veneer to cover what they are doing. But no. They simply took “source code from publicly available sources, including code in public repositories on GitHub”¹ and used it. 1. https://github.com/features/copilot/#what-data-has-github-copilot-been-trained-on https://github.com/features/copilot/#what-data-has-github-co...

BrandonJung 4y ago

Does this change if the AI only uses fully permissive code? We took that approach at Tabnine and would be interested if the communities primary concern is disregard of licensing or the use of AI at all.

teddyh 4y ago
You could only permit it if the AI only used CC0 or Public Domain works. All other works require proper attribution, at the very least.
- BrandonJung 4y ago
  interesting point