An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
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Re: An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
#2(Disclaimer: not a lawyer so may be wrong here)
There's a third outcome not mentioned here though. The author loses both cases but Microsoft's Copilot is still legal. That's because there's major difference between releasing a product from AI generated code, and Microsoft releasing the AI itself. Microsoft Copilot might generate code derived from GPL, but it's up to the developer to ensure that it isn't before releasing it.
The precedent that Copilot sets is that you can train AI to generate copyleft code, but that doesn't mean you get to release it.
Re: An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
#3(Disclaimer: not a lawyer so may be wrong here) There's a third outcome not mentioned here though. The author loses both cases but Microsoft's Copilot is still legal. That's because there's major difference between releasing a product from AI generated code, and Microsoft releasing the AI itself. Microsoft Copilot might generate code derived from GPL, but it's up to the developer to ensure that it isn't before releas…
Microsoft doesn't come away a winner either in that scenario. They're left with a product that can infect their customer's code with unwanted license, not to mention questions about the ethics of reproducing code to such a level of fidelity that you trigger the license.
Re: An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
#4(Disclaimer: not a lawyer so may be wrong here) There's a third outcome not mentioned here though. The author loses both cases but Microsoft's Copilot is still legal. That's because there's major difference between releasing a product from AI generated code, and Microsoft releasing the AI itself. Microsoft Copilot might generate code derived from GPL, but it's up to the developer to ensure that it isn't before releas…
Microsoft doesn't come away a winner either in that scenario. They're left with a product that can infect their customer's code with unwanted license, not to mention questions about the ethics of reproducing code to such a level of fidelity that you trigger the license.
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Re: An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
#5(Disclaimer: not a lawyer so may be wrong here) There's a third outcome not mentioned here though. The author loses both cases but Microsoft's Copilot is still legal. That's because there's major difference between releasing a product from AI generated code, and Microsoft releasing the AI itself. Microsoft Copilot might generate code derived from GPL, but it's up to the developer to ensure that it isn't before releas…
Microsoft doesn't come away a winner either in that scenario. They're left with a product that can infect their customer's code with unwanted license, not to mention questions about the ethics of reproducing code to such a level of fidelity that you trigger the license.
> They're left with a product that can infect their customer's code with unwanted license
Which is why the company I work for has banned Copilot (a decision I agree with).
Re: An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
#6Thanks MS for single-handedly breaking open source. You've done a huge disservice to everyone.
Re: An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
#7Thanks MS for single-handedly breaking open source. You've done a huge disservice to everyone.
They just found a way to cure "cancer"
Re: An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
#8An experiment I like better:
- Gain research access to the Windows source code. (This isn't hard)
- Train an ML model on the Windows source code
- Release said model, so that anyone can recreate Windows source files
It's not clear what happens next, but hilarity ensues.
Re: An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
#9Thanks MS for single-handedly breaking open source. You've done a huge disservice to everyone.
I think most of us cognizant of Microsoft's history expected they'd try the ol' Embrace Extend Extinguish approach on software freedom, but I can't say I anticipated exactly how wacky their attempts would end up being.
Re: An experiment to test GitHub Copilot's legality
#10An experiment I like better: - Gain research access to the Windows source code. (This isn't hard) - Train an ML model on the Windows source code - Release said model, so that anyone can recreate Windows source files It's not clear what happens next, but hilarity ensues.
I'm sure there's less of it, but training on copilot's source would have more delicious irony.