Am 29.06.25 um 23:49 schrieb Alex:
There is no perfect way to write a responsibility waiver. In my opinion, the key is to have a clear discussion with the persons who will install Debian on their machines, and make them admit that *they* will install Debian, with our help and hints; when the time happens to change the format of their storage disk, they must take the decision to say "OK", and push the right button themselves.There is a CORRECT way to write a waiver, as lawyers regularly do all over the world. I gave you sound advice, do whatever you like, but at the very least exclude intent. Yes, your text tries to waive liability for intentional damaging actions and that disgression voids the whole thing.Ilu, thanks a lot for taking your time to have a closer look at the waiver. I actually think that you are right. Out of curiosity, could you point me to a case/law which voids too wide liability waivers?
§ 309 Nr. 7 b) BGB (D). I can't tell you the exact law in other countries, but I know its the same in Austria and Netherlands. And if you think about it, waiving liability for intentional damage seems kind of unfair. Even if the opinions about what exactly is considered "gross" about negligience might differ in different jurisdicions I'm reasonably sure that all EU countries have some case or law that forbids too far fetching waivers, especially in terms that are set unilaterally by one party (as is the case here).
Georges is right of course that in practice the device owners will actually **do** the installation while the volunteers **only** provide guidance. Nonetheless, Ilu's point about the invalidity of the waiver stands and given that I have no interest in legal issues whatsoever, I've [updated the (English) waiver][0]. Is this change giving the workshop a legally sounder footing, Ilu? [0]: https://salsa.debian.org/puer-robustus/debian-install-at-debconf25/-/commit/5bf2017e9473def754d8aad4e57467b144db92c5
That change should take care of the problem.
If Ilu deems the change to be acceptable, Georges, can you please make the necessary changes to the French version of the liability waiver, too? Feel free to send me the updated diffs you have provided us with earlier. Thanks in advance everyone!