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Oh boy. I just made a change to my licenses ([1]) to fight something like this. It basically makes the license null and void if any part of the disclaimer is n

Oh boy. I just made a change to my licenses ([1]) to fight something like this. It basically makes the license null and void if any part of the disclaimer is not recognized by law. [2] And because of this, I'm going to expedite getting these licenses picked over by a lawyer. Nevertheless, I'm not working on any more FOSS until that lawyer says it's safe or the UK pulls back from absurdity. [1]: https://yzena.com/licenses/ https://yzena.com/licenses/ [2]: https://yzena.com/yzena-viral-user-license/#legality-of-disclaimer https://yzena.com/yzena-viral-user-license/#legality-of-disc...

ProAm 4y ago
Can you not just add a clause that says this product is not allowed to be used in the UK?
- gavinhoward 4y ago
  I could, but I would like to strive for generality and cover other problematic countries at the same time.
- justusw 4y ago
  It would have a hard time meeting the open source definition, if that is the intention here, which I assume. > 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups > The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons. https://opensource.org/osd https://opensource.org/osd
  - ProAm 4y ago
    But the license does nothing for you in the UK, so time for change? I appreciate and like the intention behind being open source, but intentions and actions are not always on par.
TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
May as well not leave the house, too. There is danger out there. In all seriousness, aren’t you overreacting a bit?
- plaguepilled 4y ago
  Depends on the software project really. You probably don't want to be liable to a company if your network packet filter has a gnarly bug.
- gavinhoward 4y ago
  No. Sure, the likelihood doesn't seem very high, but the very fact that this case is going forward means that the floodgates are open. I think it's likely that more cases like this will be filed. In addition, if something like this happens to me, the results will be catastrophic and out of my control. A small likelihood of a catastrophic result is enough to say no because I have a wife. The only thing in my control is to say no completely. So I will if I have to. I'll probably start writing fiction again if that happens.
  - dsign 4y ago
    If you get back to fiction, don't forget to use a pen-name. You never know when a dictator, a cult leader, or a social justice warrior on the other side of the planet will find your writing not to their image of the world, and come for you.
    - gavinhoward 4y ago
      That is good advice for most people. However, as much as I'm usually cautious, I cannot feel good hiding behind a pseudonym. This is personal, though; there's nothing wrong with it. But for me, I don't want to hide from the consequences of what I say even if those consequences are stupid and unjust. Hence, why you see my real name here on HN.

ProAm 4y ago

Can you not just add a clause that says this product is not allowed to be used in the UK?

gavinhoward 4y ago
I could, but I would like to strive for generality and cover other problematic countries at the same time.
justusw 4y ago
It would have a hard time meeting the open source definition, if that is the intention here, which I assume. > 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups > The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons. https://opensource.org/osd https://opensource.org/osd
- ProAm 4y ago
  But the license does nothing for you in the UK, so time for change? I appreciate and like the intention behind being open source, but intentions and actions are not always on par.

TedDoesntTalk 4y ago

May as well not leave the house, too. There is danger out there. In all seriousness, aren’t you overreacting a bit?

plaguepilled 4y ago
Depends on the software project really. You probably don't want to be liable to a company if your network packet filter has a gnarly bug.
gavinhoward 4y ago
No. Sure, the likelihood doesn't seem very high, but the very fact that this case is going forward means that the floodgates are open. I think it's likely that more cases like this will be filed. In addition, if something like this happens to me, the results will be catastrophic and out of my control. A small likelihood of a catastrophic result is enough to say no because I have a wife. The only thing in my control is to say no completely. So I will if I have to. I'll probably start writing fiction again if that happens.
- dsign 4y ago
  If you get back to fiction, don't forget to use a pen-name. You never know when a dictator, a cult leader, or a social justice warrior on the other side of the planet will find your writing not to their image of the world, and come for you.
  - gavinhoward 4y ago
    That is good advice for most people. However, as much as I'm usually cautious, I cannot feel good hiding behind a pseudonym. This is personal, though; there's nothing wrong with it. But for me, I don't want to hide from the consequences of what I say even if those consequences are stupid and unjust. Hence, why you see my real name here on HN.