Should OS makers, like Microsoft, be legally required to provide 15 years of security updates?

  • ell1e@leminal.space
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    8 hours ago

    https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ%3AL_202402847

    Supply in the course of a commercial activity might be characterised not only by charging a price for a product with digital elements, but also by charging a price for technical support services where this does not serve only the recuperation of actual costs, by an intention to monetise, for instance by providing a software platform through which the manufacturer monetises other services, by requiring as a condition for use the processing of personal data for reasons other than exclusively for improving the security, compatibility or interoperability of the software, or by accepting donations exceeding the costs associated with the design, development and provision of a product with digital elements

    TL;DR, just donations can already be a problem, apparently. But IANAL.

    • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      but also by charging a price for technical support

      Which exactly includes systems like RedHat which I already included, but in no way includes voluntary FOSS work for free.

      an intention to monetise

      Again it’s very much about the money, and being non free both as in beer and in freedom.

      just donations can already be a problem, apparently. But IANAL.

      NOPE!!!
      Donations are not a charge. A donation is as the word says a donation typically to support a voluntary effort or an organization working for the common good in some way.
      A donation does not require anything in return.

      Why are you making scaremongering arguments from ignorance?

        • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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          6 hours ago

          or by accepting donations exceeding the costs associated with the design,

          I’m guessing that’s what you are referring to, this is not relevant to normal donations, but only a use of “donations” to circumvent regulation.
          Show me any FOSS project that has donations exceeding costs of development, it’s basically non existent, only the Linux kernel project itself, which is fair enough to be covered, since the Linux kernel is driven by commercial interests today, and “donations” are payment for membership and influence.

          The claim originally in this line of debate was that small projects could risk this, and no they can’t, only projects that are in reality commercial are affected. Those are very few, like Red Hat and the Linux kernel itself.
          The legislators in EU are not morons, and they actually listen to the FOSS community.

          • ell1e@leminal.space
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            6 hours ago

            I will stop discussing since suddenly this is about “normal” and I guess “abnormal” donations, and I don’t think we’re having a clear-headed debate here.

            • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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              6 hours ago

              There really are differences, Linux kernel membership could be called based on donations, but they are clearly more than that.
              Also you haven’t mentioned a single 1 man FOSS project that could be affected, which was the original claim could be even from just being a maintainer, which is bullshit.

              We hear these EU warnings over and over again, and they are always wrong.

              • ell1e@leminal.space
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                6 hours ago

                I continue to believe the risk is real and supported by my links and quotes. You’re free to disagree. I’m not a lawyer anyway.