Quote:
Originally Posted by kovidgoyal
Again, by installing calibre you gain the ability to not just use it, but also modify it. Therefore, the GPL's copyright clauses are not the only ones applicable. If you modify it you must abide by the terms of the GPL, and therefore accepting the GPL is necessary. If you feel that you want to modify it but cannot abide by its terms, then do not accept the GPL and do not install it.
So no, I will not accept a patch to remove the checkbox.
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You clearly misunderstand the nature of copyright licences like the GPL and don't appreciate the difference between a copyright licence and a contract (like a EULA), so you think you are gaining some kind of protection or advantage by making people check a checkbox. Whereas in reality it is completely meaningless and makes no difference to the legal position of anyone, you or the user. All it does is make people jump through unnecessary hoops, and unfairly deny people who don't agree with the GPL the possibility to use the program.
Contrary to what you say, it is entirely permissible for someone to disagree with the GPL, and still legally use the program. If they redistribute the program in violation of the GPL, you can sue them, even if they have not "accepted" the GPL.
In fact, even if someone downloads your program, unpacks it without using the installer (so they don't have to "accept" the GPL), changes it and redistributes those changes in violation of the GPL, you can
still sue them, even thought they have not "accepted" the GPL. The GPL applies to them whether they like it or not, because (like it says itself) it is the only thing granting them the right to redistribute, and it places conditions on that redistribution.
Having a checkbox there does not offer you any additional protection or other advantage. It's completely meaningless, empty, null and void. But if despite all that you insist on having a useless and unfair hurdle to installing your program then that is of course your prerogative and I'll have to accept it.
Pity! At least I tried.