Mozilla Responds to the EULA Controversy
At Mozilla’s request, Ubuntu users are required to read an extensive End-User License Agreement (EULA) before they can use the Firefox browser. The head of the Mozilla Foundation, Mitchell Baker, has responded to the hefty criticism of this plan.
“We (meaning Mozilla) have shot ourselves in the foot,” declares Mozilla Foundation’s Mitchell Baker in the blog in response to the controversy. However, rather than address the license agreement bundling issue, the statement simply claims that the wrong version was used. Truly the content of the EULA had led many contributors to the Ubuntu mailing list to conclude that Mozilla Firefox was no longer free software.
Baker wants to correct this impression. She emphasizes that “yes, the content of the license agreement is wrong. The correct content is clear that the code is governed by FLOSS licenses, not the typical end user license agreement language that is in the current version.” She sees this as a “giant error” that needs immediate correction.
Not only does Baker recognize the fundamental problem, she also sees the importance of how the license is presented and promises further dialogue and to address further concerns on the subject. Another matter is how the services relate to the software and that the FLOSS license should properly address this issue.
Baker once more deflects the fundamental criticism of whether users should even be concerned with the licensing by focusing on content: “Again, if we had the correct content I think this would be less of an issue because then we would be telling people about FLOSS licenses.” During the course of the dialogue, many users had argued that Ubuntu should perhaps go with a different browser.
The result is that Mozilla Corporation’s marketing has fairly much contradicted its corporate mission, to promote and market Mozilla Foundation’s free browser. Baker ends her statement with “We take this very seriously and are working hard to fix it.”
Issue 272/2023
Buy this issue as a PDF
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
News
-
KDE Plasma 6 Looks to Bring Basic HDR Support
The KWin piece of KDE Plasma now has HDR support and color management geared for the 6.0 release.
-
Bodhi Linux 7.0 Beta Ready for Testing
The latest iteration of the Bohdi Linux distribution is now available for those who want to experience what's in store and for testing purposes.
-
Changes Coming to Ubuntu PPA Usage
The way you manage Personal Package Archives will be changing with the release of Ubuntu 23.10.
-
AlmaLinux 9.2 Now Available for Download
AlmaLinux has been released and provides a free alternative to upstream Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
-
An Immutable Version of Fedora Is Under Consideration
For anyone who's a fan of using immutable versions of Linux, the Fedora team is currently considering adding a new spin called Fedora Onyx.
-
New Release of Br OS Includes ChatGPT Integration
Br OS 23.04 is now available and is geared specifically toward web content creation.
-
Command-Line Only Peropesis 2.1 Available Now
The latest iteration of Peropesis has been released with plenty of updates and introduces new software development tools.
-
TUXEDO Computers Announces InfinityBook Pro 14
With the new generation of their popular InfinityBook Pro 14, TUXEDO upgrades its ultra-mobile, powerful business laptop with some impressive specs.
-
Linux Kernel 6.3 Release Includes Interesting Features
Although it's not a Long Term Release candidate, Linux 6.3 includes features that will benefit end users.
-
Arch-Based blendOS Features Cool Trick
If you're looking for a Linux distribution that blends Linux, Android, and web apps together, blendOS might be what you're looking for.