Calling it Open Source software but requiring an e-mail to download Knime from your website seems a rather odd choice.
Further, the processing of the e-mail and its purpose related to downloading the installation files is something I cannot see described in Privacy Notice & Cookie Policy | KNIME
Yes, but it does not check if the email is valid.
Cabt you skip that anymore by just checking the box, but not entering any details?
the email field is now mandatory.
how you deal with that and what you enter is a secondary discussion imo.
Would it be possible to use the user data already stored when logging in to the forum to make things a bit easier for registered users? I’d also love to see events of all kinds on the KNIME event page work seamlessly with this existing user information. That would be a huge help and a real convenience boost for us customers.
That’s just what I thought…
integrations etc. are definitely an interesting topic, but first it would be nice to understand why the email is now required for download in the first place (this has heavy enshitification vibes)
First thought: Lead generation 
Not uncommon for companies that have free offerings, but also commercial products.
The software is free and open source. Try Alteryx to see what they would require from you just to test it.
We should all be grateful that KNIME exists and is free to use.
if you don’t pay with money, you pay with your data. This is totally opposite to the FOSS idea.
Sorry but got to ask now: You know that KNIME by now has gone through at least two funding rounds and has a commercial interest? I get your point if you are talking about community run FOSS projects, but I think considering circumstances with KNIME an email address is somewhat of a bargain for what you get.
everyone is aware that there is commercial interest in the background. Freemium products are nothing new and Knime is no FOSS project.
You could imply plenty of things now (given the timing, the lack of communication or reasoning) but it would obviously better if someone involved would comment.
I can see in your screenshot it shows an * next to email, but now it doesn’t.
Maybe it was made mandatory, by mistake, 7 days ago when you posted the original message. I just checked in Chrome on Windows 11, and I can confirm that I don’t need to complete any personal details, and can just tick the box as I’ve always done. So hopefully this was a temporary glitch.
Maybe 2h ago I still needed it… right now on chrome mobile same… maybe A/B test?
still required (refreshed with clean cache). maybe its not shown on mobile because there is no “mobile” version and they dont expect anyone to actually download.
As mentioned I could download it on chrome on windows 11
BUT after a little more experimenting, I have discovered that if I head directly to knime.com/downloads I DO have to put in the email address, as you have mentioned, whereas if I do a google search for KNIME downloads, (because I am lazy!), the link that appears for me actually takes me to knime.com/get-started-today. And there the email address is not currently mandatory!
so… erm… I suggest we don’t tell KNIME… 
(btw… I’ve now added my vote)
And that’s okay. The KNIME team has built something extremely useful, and they deserve to be compensated. How do you think the KNIME developers’ salaries are paid? It’s businesses purchasing KNIME Server or Team plans that fund ongoing development (which improves at least every three months). Yet you’re complaining because you have to share your email. If you’re hesitant to provide your real email, just use a temporary one to download it and move on, it’s like a 30 seconds step.
