Zeal: Windows installer requires you to accept the GPL, which the GPL doesn’t

[chris-morgan]

Thus says the GPL:

You are not required to accept this License in order to receive or run a copy of the Program.

It is thus incorrect for the Windows installer to require you to check a box labelled “I accept the terms in the License Agreement”.

[trollixx]

I think you are right.

Perhaps, the correct solution would be removing the whole license screen, or changing the wording so it would be just a notice or acknowledgement, rather than the requirement to accept terms of the license.

[trollixx]

What I am curios about is how Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability (paragraphs 15 and 16) work in case a user does not accept the license...

[trollixx]

This requires re-implementing WiX built-in dialog, and that's definitely not something I want to touch. Patches are welcome.

[toyg]

This is busywork. Technically you don't have to accept the license to download the program from github and compile it and run it yourself, it's only required to run that particular installer build.

I would close this issue, there are bigger fish to fry.

[vgturtle127]

@toyg I have to agree.

@trollixx Maybe you could switch to Inno Installer or NSIS? Then I could make you an installer and give you the source code, if you wanted. It would be much easier to maintain, as well. Not sure if there was a specific feature or something that you chose WiX for, but thought I would offer just in case.

But regardless, other projects do this and I haven't ever seen anybody from the FSF complain about it, but I could be wrong.

[trollixx]

I don't think any other tools allow to produce MSI packages, which are preferred in enterprise and academic environments. At least this is my understanding of the situation.

[vgturtle127]

@trollixx There is this:

You could try it and see if it would work for you.

There is also Advanced Installer, which is similar to WiX.

Just thought I would provide alternatives that might be easier to maintain. 😄

[trollixx]

@vgturtle127 thanks for the information! Frankly I didn't even try searching. I am quite limited on time lately (reason v0.6.0 still hasn't been packed), so no idea when I will get a chance to look into this.

[vgturtle127]

@trollixx Alright, it isn't super critical infrastructure or anything, so I wouldn't worry too much about it until you have time to focus on it. 😃

[adrelanos]

https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#ClickThrough

Can software installers ask people to click to agree to the GPL? If I get some software under the GPL, do I have to agree to anything?

Some software packaging systems have a place which requires you to click through or otherwise indicate assent to the terms of the GPL. This is neither required nor forbidden. With or without a click through, the GPL's rules remain the same.

Merely agreeing to the GPL doesn't place any obligations on you. You are not required to agree to anything to merely use software which is licensed under the GPL. You only have obligations if you modify or distribute the software. If it really bothers you to click through the GPL, nothing stops you from hacking the GPLed software to bypass this.

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@trollixx:

What I am curios about is how Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability (paragraphs 15 and 16) work in case a user does not accept the license...