Arcane Alchemist

Informatiker / Computer Scientist

Copyright: Profile and header pictures from freepik

Last Notes

2024-08-26 16:31:54 UTC

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I'm judging it as a "blog" because of the style of language and the disclaimer at the beginning. I'm not saying Matrix is perfect, but considering that (at least Germany) is actively contributing to it, I expect that they also have experienced security researchers looking at the codebase. To use your argument, why go through all that effort if they could have just used WebEx and Teams? Arguing that the devs and auditors are all incompetent is a bit far fetched, don't you think?

2024-08-26 14:13:40 UTC

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Apparently, these issues were already known and not considered to be serious, which is why they remained.
https://mastodon.social/@npub1nwr…q0eh/112965796119221788
PS: If the issues were as basic and far-reaching as the blog insinuates, why are multiple countries using Matrix for their military and administration?

2024-08-21 21:56:47 UTC

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German humour is no laughing matter.

2024-08-19 20:34:41 UTC

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Licences can prevent you from using a product, if you don't agree to its terms. If I reserve all rights, you may not use my product without my permission. I can give you permission in return for money, or by requesting that you follow some other obligations (within reason). EULAs are often not valid in Germany, because they are seen as additional one-sided contracts, which limit the usage rights you have already acquired at purchase.

2024-08-19 19:16:26 UTC

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https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/c15c9e93-27e1-11ec-bd8e-01aa75ed71a1

2024-08-19 19:16:21 UTC

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"In Europe, the licence is generally considered a contract between a licensor (the copyright or licence owner) and a licensee (the recipient who can make use of the work permitted under the licence terms). This contract does not need both parties’ signature: it exists by means of simply using the work. If you do not agree to the licence terms you cannot use the software at all. If you use the work without complying with the licence terms, you are violating copyright law."

2024-08-17 20:45:35 UTC

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While I get what you're trying to say, I would still see hosting as a form of distribution, rather than normal usage. If you're in the realm of hosting, you have left the space of what your average "end user" is expected to do. In the end, it's the OSI which decides what they deem as compatible, and they seem to have thought the same 🤷‍♂️ .

2024-08-17 20:08:58 UTC

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*If you consider hosting a website to be "usage", you don't have to provide any source code, because the licensor already does so (as required by Article 3). You would only have to worry about it if you change things, so it's not really restricting usage.
Edit: You would have to provide a copy yourself, if the licensor only gave you a tarball 😋

2024-08-17 20:08:53 UTC

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The German version uses "Zugänglichmachung" (making accessible) instead of "communicating". If you're just browsing a website, you're not making the work accessible (communicating it to others), so it's not really a usage restriction*. The language is a bit weird, because it can also apply to other works apart from software (like CC BY-SA 3.0). The licence was created by the EU commission, so I'm pretty sure it's legally sound.

2024-08-17 18:58:02 UTC

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The EUPL is similar to AGPL, but requires the licensor to provide the source code in Article 3. Here, it really is a restriction on distribution/communication as explained in Article 5. So, you can still have an OSI-complient licence without the SAAS-loophole. 😉
https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/custom-page/attachment/eupl_v1.2_en.pdf
Edit: EUPL is also compatible with many other licences, while maintaining its obligations on derivative works (as long as they don't clash).

2024-08-16 21:25:31 UTC

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The best part is that future AI models will inevitably be trained on these images and think that it’s completely normal 😂

2024-08-09 12:39:03 UTC

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This almost looks like a rebranded ThinkPad Yoga (don't know which model). My old Yoga works well on Linux, including the touchscreen and the switch for the keyboard and touchpad in tablet mode.

2024-08-06 19:47:48 UTC

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Fun fact: Companies are now starting to boycott Tesla too. Musk thought he could buy the public discourse, but all he achieved is the destruction of his carefully crafted image of the progressive tech visionary.