[rglullis]

It doesn't. Funkwhale is not meant to be run as a service for a large number of users. People running a pod should be cleared by fair use, much like someone with a iTunes library that is accessible through the home (or company) intranet.

[loceng]

How would it fall under fair use?

[rglullis]

It's a decentralized system, anyone can install and set it up. If I am running a pod and only give access to a few friends, how is that not fair use?

Mind you, this is only one of the basic cases. There are plenty of other use-cases for such a service that does not even involve copyright abuse. Imagine an indie label that sets up an instance to promote their artists. Or a music school that puts performance from their teachers/students.

There are plenty of ethical reasons for something like Funkwhale to exist, it's not on the developers to ensure that it is only going to be used in a way that doesn't cause the ire of the big-baddie RIAA.

Also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25865040