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WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

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Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#211

Post by tzs »

kmeisthax wrote: post #40
YetAnotherNick wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the problem with GPLv2 licensed app?

The App Store TOS specifically prohibits you from redistributing any app you download from it. GPLv2 specifically prohibits that, so any distribution of an app under GPLv2 terms is a license violation. GPLv3 would be even worse as you cannot provide Installation Instructions. However, WordPress/Automattic has copyright ownership, which means GPLv2 terms don't apply. If you get the app from the App Store, then the App…

> GPLv3 would be even worse as you cannot provide Installation Instructions.

Minor correction: it's "Installation Information", not "Installation Instructions".

Bigger correction: The GPLv3 Installation Information requirement does not apply to programs sold via software stores for use on devices that the user already has. It only applies to the conveyance of:

> object code work under this section in, or with, or specifically for use in, a User Product, and the conveying occurs as part of a transaction in which the right of possession and use of the User Product is transferred to the recipient

A "User Product" is:

> either (1) a “consumer product”, which means any tangible personal property which is normally used for personal, family, or household purposes, or (2) anything designed or sold for incorporation into a dwelling.

This section of GPLv3 was to address the TiVo situation, where you had hardware that shipped with GPL software and source but required signed binaries so that if you used that source to build updated firmware you could not run it. The GPLv3 authors specifically tied this section to software that you get along with the hardware.

I've never looked into why they decided to limit it like that. Anyone happen to know the reasons?

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#212

Post by anticensor »

nrmitchi wrote: post #57
bilal4hmed wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

interesting neither did I. Globally its still 25% however.

But for the purposes of US antitrust and anti-competetive concerns, why does "global" matter?

Humans are humans, anti-competitive behaviour spreads quickly from country to country. If you get too late preparing for the legal action, the anti-competitive behaviour may well spread without competition enforcement noticing.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#213

Post by anticensor »

tzs wrote: post #211
kmeisthax wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The App Store TOS specifically prohibits you from redistributing any app you download from it. GPLv2 specifically prohibits that, so any distribution of an app under GPLv2 terms is a license violation. GPLv3 would be even worse as you cannot provide Installation Instructions. However, WordPress/Automattic has copyright ownership, which means GPLv2 terms don't apply. If you get the app from the App Store, then the App…

> GPLv3 would be even worse as you cannot provide Installation Instructions. Minor correction: it's "Installation Information", not "Installation Instructions". Bigger correction: The GPLv3 Installation Information requirement does not apply to programs sold via software stores for use on devices that the user already has. It only applies to the conveyance of: > object code work under this section in, or with, or spe…

If they did not limit like that, developers would complain that this licence goes too far. Have you never heard of MongoDB SSPL incident? Do you wish GNU GPL to become an unpreferred software licence like SSPL is?

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#214

Post by anticensor »

nurettin wrote: post #205
ac29 wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The 30% apple fee does not cover taxes/VAT. Those costs are added on top.

So we have this equation for what the customer sees: dev price + apple comm. + VAT

Did you mean:

   dev price + apple VAT + real VAT

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#215

Post by tzs »

nicky0 wrote: post #166
floatingatoll wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They openly encourage users to submit contributions in the form of pull requests ^1; they seem to accept pull requests without any special statement of licensing contrary to the GPLv2 repo license ^2; and, they do not openly state in the GitHub repo's Contributor Guidelines any CLA requirement that would permit them to relicense GPLv2 contributions that they merge ^3. (IANYL) ^1 https://apps.wordpress.com/contribute/…

The point is that Apple doesn't care if there's GPL code, so it doesn't matter if they "realize" as you said in your original comment. If anything, the project contributors could sue Automattic for violating the terms of their contribution.

They could probably sue Apple, too. When someone buys something on the App Store, the store makes a copy and distributes a copy to the purchaser. If that copy is infringing, then the entity that makes and distributes the copy (i.e., Apple) should be liable.

That they received their initial copy from someone else (i.e., Automatic) who told them that they had the rights to make and authorize making and distribution of copies wouldn't protect Apple from suit. It would just mean that in turn Apple would be able to sue Automatic to make them pay any damages and costs Apple incurs over the matter.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#216

Post by noisem4ker »

zelly wrote: post #210
fermienrico wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unpopular opinion that I hold: The walled garden is exactly why I love Apple's iPhone. iPhone keeps the rifraff away, third-party sniffers at check, they've recently added clipboard notification if some app tries to paste random stuff from my clipboard (given that we use it so much for 1Password and other password managers). I absolutely do not trust any third party - there are some insane apps like LinkedIn that tri…

Most of the world agrees with you which is why they keep buying iPhones as soon as they can afford them

I doubt that's the "why they keep buying iPhones" when other factors include wealth signalling, social fit-in and SMS bubble color fashion.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#217

Post by kalleboo »

matchbok wrote: post #189
rubber_duck wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It bugs me how this is an argument in "app store is not a monopoly". App stores (both Google and Apple) have a huge profit margin which is based on abusing it's position and they are milking the fact that creating competition would cost billions of dollars - this is exactly the situation where a pure market situation ends up being sub-optimal and hurting the consumers. Consider what would happen if Mastercard and Vis…

Credit card companies.... already have those rules. No store can just offer a cheaper cash price. It’s in the agreements.

They had those rules, but the rules have been outlawed in many places because... they are shitty and anti-consumer

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#218

Post by raverbashing »

Abishek_Muthian wrote: post #186
ameen wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Twitch does this blatantly. I think they’re able to skirt the rules because of being an Amazon company. A subscription on the web is 4.99 and the same subscription via the official twitch iOS app is 5.99.

Any discount is enticing, but I wonder how many really go through the effort of - 1. Searching, Opening the web page in Safari. 2. Signing-in. 3. Updating personal details. 4. Updating credit card details. 5. Making the payment. Instead of clicking a button to save $1? P.S. I would.

To be fair I would pay more on the Apple/Google store if I knew that a) I wouldn't need to give my CC details to a random company b) cancelling would be hassle-free

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#219

Post by zelly »

noisem4ker wrote: post #216
zelly wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the world agrees with you which is why they keep buying iPhones as soon as they can afford them

I doubt that's the "why they keep buying iPhones" when other factors include wealth signalling, social fit-in and SMS bubble color fashion.

If they had a problem with the walled garden they wouldn't buy it. Say "walled garden" to the average iPhone owner and they'll say "So? That's a good thing".

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#220

Post by kalleboo »

Razengan wrote: post #65

What should be the price of accessing a billion users? Does any platform allow anyone to charge its users without going through the platform? Nevermind charging, does -any- platform allow anyone to interact with its users at all without adhering to the platform's terms and conditions? Can we post anything we want on HN? How about spamming Patreon or GoFundMe links on forums and servers? Why not?

> Does any platform allow anyone to charge its users without going through the platform?

Microsoft Windows?

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