Public bug reported:
https://launchpad.net/malone/bugs/32341
Affects: gaim (Ubuntu)
Severity: Normal
Priority: (none set)
Status: Unconfirmed
Description:
There are several legal issues I see in having gaim installed per
default on Ubuntu systems:
1) Regarding MSN Messenger support:
"You may only use Microsoft software or authorized third-party software to sign
into and use the Service." [1]
Gaim is *not* authorized [2].
2) Regarding Yahoo! Messenger support:
"You agree not to access the Service by any means other than through the
interface that is provided by Yahoo! for use in accessing the Service." [3]
3) Regarding AOL AIM support:
"You may access AIM Products only through the interfaces and protocols provided
or authorized by AOL. You agree that you will not access AIM Products through
unauthorized means, such as unlicensed software clients, and that you will only
use AIM Products in conjunction with AOL authorized products and components."
[4]
I'm not a lawyer, but I think these companies (especially MS) might use
this terms to cause troubles in the future. After all, connecting to
these networks with gaim is a license violation and users should be
protected from doing this.
There are several possible solutions I see here:
a) Leave gaim as the default client, but don't compile the problematic
protocols (there a ./configure switches available)
b) Move gaim package to multiverse and use gajim [5] as default client. It is a
very good client and only speaks Jabber. Users could use the problematic
protocols through jabber transports or install gaim from multiverse if they
need them. Gossip and Gabber might be alternatives, but I think gaim is the
best GTK client out there.
c) (well, not really a solution): Patch gaim so it at least shows a clear
warning that the user is violating the TOS and risks to lose his account, etc.
[1] http://messenger.msn.com/Help/Terms.aspx?mkt=en-us
[2]
http://messenger.msn.de/Help/Authorized.aspx?MSID=610562490b6b47fda89fb494fa51dc3f
[3] http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[4] http://www.aim.com/tos/tos.adp?aolp=
[5] http://www.gajim.org/
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