• sweng@programming.dev
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    3 months ago

    The TOS actually does not say you are granting users permissions to fork in the usually understood sense. The TOS gives you permission to copy, which Github calls “forking” even though it isn’t.

    • chebra@mstdn.io
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      3 months ago

      @sweng

      > you agree to allow others to view and “fork” your repositories

      How did you come to the conclusion that this does not grant the permissions to fork? It’s literally in the sentence. Where else did you find the definition of “forking”, if not here? This is what Github defines in the TOS, this is the label on the button in github UI, so clearly this is also what winamp means when they forbid “forking” and that means it’s against the TOS. There is no other “forking”.

      • sweng@programming.dev
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        3 months ago

        I got it from the TOS:

        By setting your repositories to be viewed publicly, you agree to allow others to view and “fork” your repositories (this means that others may make their own copies of Content from your repositories in repositories they control).

        They explicitly define it as making copies. There is no mention of being allowed to modify said copy. Also note the quotes around “fork”, since it differs from the usual definition.

        E.g. wikpedia (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork_(software_development) defines it thusly:

        In software engineering, a project fork happens when developers take a copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct and separate piece of software.

        (Emphasis mine)

        • chebra@mstdn.io
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          3 months ago

          @sweng But what else would “forking” mean? As you said “in the usual sense”. This is the usual sense - making a copy of the repo on github = forking.

          • sweng@programming.dev
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            3 months ago

            I edited my reply to include the definition from Wikipedia, but there are of course many other sources.

                  • sweng@programming.dev
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                    3 months ago

                    How about you continue reading a bit further, until you hit the word “and”.

                    take a copy of source code from one software package and start independent development

                    (emphasis mine).

                    Github defines “forking” as just copying, while normally it is understood as copying + further development (creating a “fork” in the development history, hence the name).