Protection of our software
Hi all,
many people are distributing free software just for fun and out of
idealism. Also most people on this list do so, and so do I. It's part of
the "old internet spirit", and all people who I know appreciate, that
there is so much free stuff on the internet.
But some time ago I learned, that there are people (in order to avoid
misunderstandings: I do not mean menbers of the Eu community!) who are
not satisfied by getting software at no charge, and by getting the
source code. They obviously think that they have the right to do what
they want with the work of other people ...
For example, my file "mbox100.zip" comes with the following license.
Do you think, important parts are missing? (I'd like to keep the license
as short as possible.) Dear native English speakers, is it correct and
understandable English?
Yesterday I discovered, that a guy in Russia had split the file into two
pieces, and distributes the pieces separately!
"... as long as ... the file 'mbox100.zip' is distributed unchanged and
completely." should be clear enough to state, that this isn't allowed,
no?
<QUOTE>
License
-------
All rights and the copyright of the software distributed with this
license remain with the developer, Juergen Luethje.
This software is distributed as Freeware, you are free to use it at no
charge. You may copy the software and it's documentation freely, as long
as you are not selling it and the file "mbox100.zip" is distributed
unchanged and completely.
Without special written permission by the author, you are not allowed to
wrap the file "mbox100.zip". That means you must not distribute the file
in a way, that it is packed in another archive or any other file.
This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the
implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
I do not accept responsibility for any effects, adverse or otherwise,
that this code may have on you or your computer. Use it at your own risk.
<UNQUOTE>
I mailed to the guy who I mentioned above:
"... you are violating the license ... it is not allowed to distribute
the file in two separate pieces, like you do. Please stop that!"
He answered:
"I didn't think it is so important. The rule of my server is to
distribute program and it sources if included separately."
That's incredible. He thinks he can make the rules concerning my work!
Although I want to have a license that covers such issues, I know that I
normally can't do much against it, if someone doesn't care for the
license at all.
So the next question please: What else can I do?
I also experienced, that some people like to distribute the file with a
different name, which I don't want, too. Is there an installer, that
only installs the software, if the installation file has the correct
name, and after having checked it's integrity?
Thanks in advance for any hints!
Juergen
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