please remove my name from this project
BurntSushi opened this issue · 10 comments
I'm pretty disgusted that someone has taken a project I built, relicensed it, attempted to erase its entry on the Python Wiki, released it under effectively the same name and, worst of all, associated it with Nazi symbols. This is from the footer of your web site:
Please remove my name from this project. I do not wish to be associated with it. For example:
https://github.com/mitmproxy/pdoc/blob/69ce6240df227b50c799073587d6358c368788a9/setup.py#L15-L16
Please also remove any commit in which I'm listed as an author and otherwise expunge my name from this project.
Nice to meet you!
I'm sincerely sorry you feel this way. 😞 I actually thought you might be positively thrilled to see your project evolve, flourish and be more widely used, even in face of, opinion based on observation, your inadvertent subpar choice of inheritors.
I found the old project abandoned and the maintainers unmalleable, but since the project's core ideas are so great and important, a fork to keep it alive made perfect sense. It's still the same project! I dare even say (conjecture) that with the exclusion of all software enhancing additions, fewer lines were touched since you left it than in the other, now clearly defunct repo. And you sure know underdog projects can benefit from some head start. Admittedly, initial erasing of the link on the wiki was a severe case of misjudgment. 😅
I relicensed the fork under GNU AGPL because this is, as RMS once irrefutably convinced me, the freest license, ensuring the extension of public human heritage and the upkeep of user freedoms in perpetuity. Only well intended.
Now, regarding the swastikas in the page footer and in my avatar: it's a matter of grave misinterpretation. These swastikas aren't those of Nazi Germany but rather of Buddhist kind, appearance, and intent. I expose them as lucky charms, tokens of good will and good luck; certainly not to exemplify Nazi symbols or ideology. In light of this, I guess I ought to view further hinting at my swastikas associated with Nazism as deliberate and malicious libel.
No harm done.
I gather from your message that this was your greatest concern. Since the argument now appears irrelevant, and assuming you hold no other personal grudges against me (:innocent:), would you maybe like to retract or reconsider your request?
You are, after all, the project's visionary father! I'm just the perpetuator.
would you maybe like to retract or reconsider your request?
No. My request stands. Please remove any reference to my name from this project. I want no association with it or you.
Very sorry you feel this way as it makes me look bad and ill-intentioned, which I'm not ...
But, of course, 👍 on the request. I, too, don't appreciate my name needlessly scattered across the web or connected with things bearing my honest, if misaligned, disapproval. The update has been pushed as 0.6.1.
Can't oblige with the request to remove commits from the project's historical archive, though. The request is unjustified and technically infeasible. Sorry.
Well, it is perfectly feasible to remove author names from past commits. It is clear that you don't want to do it, but don't make up bogus excuses.
I won't look at the licensing specifics in this case, but removing authorship can be illegal regardless of the reason. On the other hand, removing parts of code (commits) at request might not be an obligation for who extends or share the original work. Whether it is in good manners to request or to accept is a matter of personal judgement. Borrowing the name of a project without agreement with the original author doesn't seem a recommended conduct IMHO.
Not that it matters, but it is not illegal to remove authorship if the author and original copyright holder specifically requests it. And I have never seen a software license that ever said anything about the attributions in commit history or even that commit history needed to be retained for that matter.
But it is really not technically difficult to edit git commit history if one were so inclined to do so.
Thanks. Sorry, I didn't get that the request was only about history (instead of parts of current code he has committed). I agree history and tools (git, github) are irrelevant to what is considered a produced work. I would stick with the other, but this fork seems in better shape, despite anything else. If it is agreed and well documented as a desire of the original author, it seems safe to attend the request. ps. I am not a lawyer.
associated it with Nazi symbols
Shame to see people jump to conclusions without due diligence. It's a shame that this ancient beautiful symbol has been stolen by bad actors just because people allowed them to through sheer ignorance. Seems like woke-ness did a full circle and by trying to protect against discrimination became just that - discriminatory 🤷
Seems like this fork was done in good faith and I appreciate @kernc efforts, thank you!
@Granitosaurus I don't think the point is the symbol after all. It's mainly a forked repository trying to impersonate its original repository to attract attention. It went from manipulating Python Wiki to falsely claiming association with effort leaders.
The swastikas is just adding insult to the injury.
It's a shame to see people give credit to this kind of project.