6fda57fbbfbb0443719a2afd74df26d5
Raiding the Community
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0
FOUR days ago we mentioned what Microsoft had done to Marak, in effect confiscating his work on Free software though he wasn't working for Microsoft or even being paid for his work. This caused an uproar; does Microsoft covertly own and control everything in GitHub? If so, it's not free hosting, it's the passage of one's work to Microsoft. What about projects that used GitHub for 14 years? Did they ever consent to such a transaction? And also, what did Microsoft actually pay for when it took over GitHub? Was this a non-consensual sale of code other than the proprietary software of GitHub itself?
"Recently, as we noted here several times, Microsoft tried to claim credit for the mission to Mars by merely asserting that everything in GitHub (as in every project with presence there) is property of Microsoft."The video above talks about an upcoming series regarding the raiding of the Commons or the privatisation of volunteers' hard work; not only Microsoft is doing it and I mention AWS as another example -- raking in all the profits (financial gains) while denying a living wage to those who actually did all the work.
This crisis isn't new and discussion about it is well overdue. Yes, Free software powers this planet (also our presence in space and Mars to some degree), but who controls this software? Recently, as we noted here several times, Microsoft tried to claim credit for the mission to Mars by merely asserting that everything in GitHub (as in every project with presence there) is property of Microsoft. ⬆
"Nobody accidentally makes a billion dollars while working on protecting human rights and democracy. The only way you make a billion dollars is by working on making a billion dollars." -- Aral Balkan