AmiKit and Terms of Use

[motorollin]

recidivist wrote:
  Anyway, I find that the Terms of Use seem to prohibit anyone not a vegetarian and pacifist from downloading or using AmiKit.
  Pity.

  Restricting the potential user base is not likely to make your OS a huge success.And since all forms of violence are condemned it would appear anyone who eats meat,realizes the need to control animal populations,or is willing to fight to protect his life,wife,or Amiga from attackers can't use AmiKit.

It doesn't actually say that. Here is what the terms of use say:

This package, either in whole or in part, MUST NOT be used:

- on any machine which is used for the research, development, construction, testing or production of weapons or other military applications. This also includes any machine which is used in the education for any of the above mentioned purposes.
- by people who accept, support or use any kind of violent or other aggressive behaviour against other people or animals.

The first part means the author doesn't want it to be used in military or weapons-oriented conputers. That doesn't prohibit individuals who have any patriotic, nationalist or even pro-war tendencies from using it on their own private equipment.

The second part refers to support of violence against people and animals. I think it is highly questionable to say that consumption of meat is an act of violence, since most civilised societies animals are slaughtered painlessly.

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moto

[motorollin]

I don't wish to offend the author of Amikit, but it seems to me that these kinds of terms of use are an attempt to coerce people to change their moral values by denying them the right to use the product unless they conform to the author's wishes. However, it seems unlikely to me that anybody would change their morals in order to use a piece of software, or eschew said software because their morals do not comply with the author's requirements.

While I can understand author's not wanting their software to be used for weapons research, as stated in the Amikit terms of use, it is my opinion that the morals of the users of the software are not the author's concern, and I have to say I think that demanding people not to use your product because they do not conform to your morals is itself morally objectionable.

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moto

[motorollin]

@AmiKit
Thank you for responding calmly and politely :-) I commend your moral standpoint, but I think the wording of your terms of use could be better. Maybe suggesting that people consider their actions, or think twice before committing acts of violence etc, rather than insisting that people who accept or commit such acts do not use your software.

BTW the terms of use for Feelin are hilarious :lol:

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moto