(#xv2o3ua) I have updated my Github Profile README with the same messaging. Some thoughts I've already had... If I decide to delete all source code repositories and forks from Github because of this Copilot that violates my licensing terms and copyright of my works; Then I may replace my private Git hosting with Gitea so that it is easier for others to continue to collaborate with my on various projects.

(#xv2o3ua) To all fellow Aussie Developers from down under. If anyone is affected by this and feels just as strongly as I (_and many others_) do **AND** you are interested in a Class Action lawsuit against Microsoft; then please get in touch with me via: james at mills dot io I will help organise one if I can enough interest from Australian devs.

@prologic (#xv2o3ua) If you feel that strong about it I think this is enough of an abuse from M$ and Github. But despite of that, today we have great alternatives for self-hosting such as Gitea. But I also think Github gives a great exposure to projects that helps discoverability and bringing new collaborators.

@antonio (#xv2o3ua) Agreed if I decide to do this I’ll maintain a GitHub identity and use it primarily as a social platform that it really is; but **never** host my code there again!

@prologic @antonio (#xv2o3ua) I guess the concern is: If you don't at least mirror the code to GitHub, discoverability of your code will suffer. But if you do mirror your code to GitHub, they potentially will ingest it into future AI training sets. Not sure there's a good way to have your cake and eat it too, apart from someone finally passing legislation that regulates how big companies (ab)use AI on other people's data.

@ocdtrekkie @antonio (#xv2o3ua) That's the thing though... There are already laws in place that protect CopyRight holdders of Source Code and infringement. The problem is (_as is often the case_) "these corporations" are often so big that they behave as "assholes" and no individual has the money to fight them. Hence my original offer stands, if any other Aussie feels strongly about this like I do, please email me and if there's enough interest we can get a Class Action going.

(#xv2o3ua) ... That being said though @ocdtrekkie you are right _I think_ (_in our email discussion_) in that M$ may entirely drop this as I can only imagine the backlash is (_if not already_) going to be **HUGE**. OTOH even if I decide to move my code elsewhere, there's no reason I can't re-mirror the software projects I _actually_ work on and maintain and just have a `README.md` in palce (_but no code_) Right?

@prologic (#xv2o3ua) Haha, I don’t think there will be a backlash. It’s going to be the same thing as every time: Some angry nerds will leave the platform, but the vast majority won’t care. End of story. It’s a very smart move by MS: The actual GitHub remains unaffected! As long as nobody *is forced* to use that new service, people won’t care. You’re right, only a lawsuite has any chance of success, but as you said, given the size of “these companies”, it’s going to be … tedious.

@prologic (#xv2o3ua) I stopped hosting new stuff on GitHub in 2018, but I can’t really tell if discoverability has suffered or not. I mean, why would it? Do you discover new software *through* GitHub? I don’t. It’s blog posts, forum posts, whatever, that matters.

@movq (#xv2o3ua) Yeah you’re probably right ! Howecer I’m seriously considering being one of those angry nerds 😳 The simple fact is over the years I’ve probably contributed to and written more than 500,000 lines of code. Needless to say I’m not very happy about that effort being used by Microsoft with little to no attribution or compensation! 😡