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posted by n1 on Monday June 08 2015, @03:16AM   Printer-friendly
from the mix-and-match dept.

I have been watching the evolution of the Ubuntu Software Center for quite a while now. I had doubts about its interface and its speed, but I liked the fact that it offered an easy, down-to-earth interface that allowed users to install software easily. However, I have to say that the way the Ubuntu Software Center has evolved is worrying me -- a lot. I am not against the idea of selling software. What I am against, is confusing proprietary software with non-proprietary software, The Ubuntu Software Center seems to be doing just that.


[ Editor's Note: The submission appears to have come directly from the author of the original article. ]
Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday June 08 2015, @05:24AM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday June 08 2015, @05:24AM (#193521) Journal

    I love the disclaimer:

    Disclaimer: In case you are either 1) a complete idiot; or 2) a lawyer; or 3) both, please be aware that this site is not affiliated with or approved by Canonical Limited. This site criticizes Canonical for certain privacy-invading features of Ubuntu and teaches users how to fix them. So, obviously, the site is not approved by Canonical. And our use of the trademarked term Ubuntu is plainly descriptive — it helps the public find this site and understand its message.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 4, Informative) by Ryuugami on Monday June 08 2015, @07:19AM

    by Ryuugami (2925) on Monday June 08 2015, @07:19AM (#193552)

    Unfortunately, that disclaimer is not entirely a joke: they added it in response [techdirt.com] to getting a cease-and-desist letter from Canonical.

    Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, apparently has decided to act like a trademark bully. The maker of a fairly popular version of Linux sent a cease-and-desist letter to the website FixUbuntu.com, which is a website run by Micah Lee (who happens to work for EFF), that shows Ubuntu users how to disable a default feature in Ubuntu that Lee reasonably considers to be privacy invading. It's pretty straightforward, but Ubuntu's trademark lawyers are trying to kill it. While the letter is more on the friendly end of the spectrum, it's still problematic. It argues that Lee does not have the right to use the logo

    In response, Lee and his colleagues at EFF came up with a wonderful disclaimer they've added to the site just to make it extra clear that there will be no confusion

    There is a silver lining, though.

    How often do you get to put the terms "complete idiot" in a disclaimer?

    --
    If a shit storm's on the horizon, it's good to know far enough ahead you can at least bring along an umbrella. - D.Weber
    • (Score: 2) by isostatic on Monday June 08 2015, @06:29PM

      by isostatic (365) on Monday June 08 2015, @06:29PM (#193753) Journal

      Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, apparently has decided to act like a trademark bully.

      Ubuntu: a quality that includes the essential human virtues; compassion and humanity.