Wireshark-users: Re: [Wireshark-users] Windows installer bug: Users shouldn't have to accept GNU
On Friday 22 September 2006 03:23, Jaap Keuter wrote:
> On another note, the License also speeks about warranty in clauses 11 en
> 12. I don't mind the person installing agreeing to that.
I submitted an Ask Slashdot question about the use of the GPL as a click-wrap
agreement, and one of the comments there pointed out how the FSF recommends
this issue be addressed.
At http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html#SEC4 there's a "How to Apply These
Terms to Your New Programs" guide. It suggests that software display a
notice similar to this one:
"Gnomovision version 69, Copyright (C) year name of author
Gnomovision comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details
type `show w'. This is free software, and you are welcome
to redistribute it under certain conditions; type `show c'
for details."
This is short and simple enough that users will read it -- in fact it's much
more likely that they'll understand it is Free Software than if they're
required to read the GPL text -- it makes clear that there is no warranty,
and it provides instructions on how to get more information. Obviously, the
nature of the instructions would have to change for wireshark.
Another poster on slashdot mentioned that some other GPL packages have also
taken the approach of replacing the "I Accept" and "Cancel" buttons with a
single button that says "Cool!", or "Great!".
I think the combination of these two ideas is excellent, and addresses all of
my concerns.
If there's a consensus that an installer that follows such an approach would
be accepted, I'll be happy to implement the changes and provide a patch.
Thanks,
Shawn.
P.S. For anyone who is interested, the slashdot discussion is at
http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/10/14/232217
