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GitHub, the git repository hosting service, recently disabled access to the repository of the video converter "WebM for Retards".
This tool, allowing a user to easily convert portions of a video to the increasingly supported WebM format, is mostly used on image-boards and image sharing websites. Despite its name, the project is a fully working tool.
Even the forks hosted on GitHub have been affected by this ban.
At the time of writing, the GitHub staff hasn't offered any form of explanation as to why access to the repo has been limited. However it is not hard to imagine that this may have to do with the name of the project. The recent news regarding DICCS come to mind.
takyon: From GitHub's Terms of Service:
We may, but have no obligation to, remove Content and Accounts containing Content that we determine in our sole discretion are unlawful, offensive, threatening, libelous, defamatory, pornographic, obscene or otherwise objectionable or violates any party's intellectual property or these Terms of Service.
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Sunday July 26 2015, @03:33AM
The problem is that Github is such a popular site they should have some responsibility to not run a dictatorship. For example, if Google were to deny service to all IPs coming from Yahoo/Apple, in a sense they have that right as they provide a commercial, private search service, but on the other hand they've grown to a size that rivals public services, they can't just cause public disorder for the hell of it. Shouldn't the same apply to Github as well?
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(Score: 3, Insightful) by janrinok on Sunday July 26 2015, @07:06AM
No - it's a business not a government. If you don't like their T&Cs, go elsewhere. Now whether acting in such a manner would be good for business is another discussion ...
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Monday July 27 2015, @10:04AM
Last I checked, physical stores, which are also businesses, aren't allowed to kick out people without reason. Water and electric companies, which are also businesses, cannot deny you service without reason. Storage companies, which are also businesses, aren't allowed to damage your property even if you miss a payment.
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(Score: 2) by janrinok on Monday July 27 2015, @12:23PM
Who said they haven't got a reason? If the owner/maintainer of the GitHub repository in question has broken the T&Cs, then GitHub have every reason the shut that repo down.
So, here at least, if a tramp/hobo walks into a story, he can expect to be escorted out very quickly. Stores do not have to grant everyone access, and the reason can be nothing more than your appearance. Similarly, if you have broken contracts with previous companies, then utility companies do not have to rush to meet your needs either, they are quite entitled to get assurances that you will not do the same again before they start providing a service to you. But I suppose breaking contracts is the same as breaking T&Cs.
And, as for missing payments, I must have been mistaken when I heard of houses being repossessed a year or two back. Damage is sometimes occasioned during the eviction of householders who have failed to keep up their mortgage payments.