Re: Massive Licensing Violation?

Bernhard,

I was evaluating the software and it failed when creating a DVD. I 
opened a log file and noticed that there were mentions of dvdauthor all 
over the place. I went through the DLL's and saw that there were lots of 
other projects in there as well. The mjpeg tools are in 'mpgenc.dll' and 
'mplex.dll' in the installation folder. 'mplex_vcd.dll' may very well be 
one of yours as well.

 > Interresting idea. My main problem is that I don't have any experience
 > with that stuff. I didn't find any hint on how to behave on the fsf.org
 > site.

I have been in touch with the project leaders for cdrdao, dvdauthor, and 
cdrecord/mkisofs. They all want to follow-up. I can email all of the 
project leaders and put them in touch with each other. The FSF says on 
its site it can help, and a posting on slashdot said that 
softwarefreedom.org can pursue violations pro-bono.

-Scott



Bernhard Praschinger wrote:
> Hallo
> 
> Sorry but your mails were filtered away by my spamfilter.
> I have read your post on slashdot. 
> (http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/07/08/30/1221225.shtml)
> 
>> I'm writing to say that I came across a piece of software that looks 
>> like it is violating the mpeg2enc and mplex license. It appears that 
>> they are trying to hide the fact that they are using them by wrapping 
>> your software in a DLL.
> How did you notice ?
> 
> I think I remember that this is not the first time parts of the 
> mjpegtools are "reused".
> The first time mpeg2enc was reused was in Cinelerra (might be that is 
> was called broadcast 2000 at that time). He just used the code, and 
> removed every copyright information. (You don't get that version any 
> more on the SF mirror).
> 
>> I may very well have missed other violations. This is pretty freaking 
>> stupid of the company. With such a large number of violations, I'm 
>> wondering if the FSF would jump in to represent all of the projects?
> Interresting idea. My main problem is that I don't have any experience 
> with that stuff. I didn't find any hint on how to behave on the fsf.org 
> site.
> 
> 
> auf hoffentlich bald,
> 
> Berni the Chaos of Woodquarter
> 
> Email: [email protected]
> www: http://www.lysator.liu.se/~gz/bernhard


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