What is the rules on stealing plugins?

Discussion in 'Bukkit Discussion' started by SuperSala, Nov 20, 2011.

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  1. Offline

    SuperSala

    A user I know on a server and is currently an admin on, is stealing segments of code from other plugins and profiting from the people on said server. He is taking donations for plugins he has obviously not made, including a skills plugin and clan plugin. At the moment he is taking credit on the server for MAKING the first version of bukkit able to run on a 1.0 server. He has only posted one plugin on this website and is considered a plugin developer. If an admin or a maker of any of these plugins could contact me I will give the name and server that the person is on.

    90% of the server feels he is taking credit for plugins he did not make. Him taking credit for making bukkit 1.0 compatible was the last straw, is there anything that can be done about this? Thanks.
     
  2. Offline

    nala3

    Stealing is bad mmkay
    [​IMG]
    No but seriously, just tell people to stop going to his server :)
     
  3. Offline

    Evenprime

    Rules for bukkit forum and bukkitDev are easy: If you take code from others without permission, you'll get warned and/or banned from the bukkit forums and/or bukkitDev (where applicable). So if you can prove that he did that, message one of the moderators with the details and they'll deal with his accounts.
     
  4. Offline

    SuperSala

    Ok, I doubt he will hand me the code but I will try. A guy that was on the server a long time ago says that the person took code from a plugin and just recompiled it. But If I see any open source stuff I will post it. People started saying the guy copied a clan plugin but now the plugins are not shown with the /plugin command.
     
  5. Offline

    Freakling

    Urge people to stop playing on his server, simple as that. There are tons of servers out there and some are even good :)
     
  6. It hardly depends on the license the plugins are using. There are much open source licenses out there that allow recompiling and stating as own work.

    //EDIT: Can you send me the server webside/IP via PM?
     
  7. Offline

    SuperSala

    But should the person that is claiming they are his be taking money from people.
     
  8. Offline

    SuperSala

    Im gonna try my best to find some proof.
     
  9. Offline

    SuperSala

    Someone has just informed me that the person was notified about it before any investigation could go on and now the person has said nobody is getting his source code. He apparently is trying a lot harder to cover it up by acting like he has never said any of the things he has. Again if anyone can help I would be happy.
     
  10. Bukkit is licensed under the terms of the GPL. That means he has to give the sources of a modified version if someone asks for it. If he don't do that inform the FSF and gpl-violations.org.

    For more help: Again: It depends hardly on the licenses of the plugins he steals from. Some allow to copy/modify/sell codes, some have restrictions for doing so, some prevent it at all. Would be good if you could tell us from which plugins he's stealing.
     
  11. Offline

    PurelySatanic

    Some people on the server that I help run have suggested that this is about me. If it is I am more than willing to provide source code for any work that I've done.

    However, I do not believe it does because
    A) I've never given my plugins out besides those that have been released via these forums. (JumpBlock,etc)
    B) I'm not the administrator of the respective server I develop plugins for
    C) I would never be stupid enough to claim to have worked on something that I did not.

    SuperSala, if you are referring to me then stop being coward and just talk to me, I am more than willing to explain any misconceptions you have of me and my work. My work is my own, and I will prove it if I have to.

    Though, I would like to point out that because I am not distributing any of my "software" beyond those that I've released on the forums I am technically not obligated by the GPL to release any source code. However, if this is the case that I am in fact the person associated with this thread then I would like a list of the plugins that you claim I have modified and claimed as my own.
     
  12. Offline

    SuperSala

    Yes I am talking about you. I will be notifying gpl, I have received word from a developer that is on this site that there is a good chance this person will be banned based on what he has seen with the plugins. I personally will not give you the chance to alter the code you have stolen anymore like some have said you have already in the past.
     
  13. Offline

    PurelySatanic

    If you've already provided the source code from the plugin you believe I've altered and submitted as my own then there should be no problem in you providing the name of said plugin because even if I were to alter the plugin now, the developers would have said source code and it would just further prove that I am guilty.

    So, I really see no reason as to why you wouldn't give me the name of the plugin because I've never stolen any code.
     
  14. Offline

    WhosDaMan

    Instant Death
     
  15. Offline

    PurelySatanic

    What the hell is instant death?
     
  16. Offline

    WhosDaMan

    The result of plagiarizing another plugin, that is the topic, right? XD
     
  17. Offline

    PurelySatanic

    Oh lmfao, I thought you were saying that was the name of the plugin I apparently copied >_>; I was like "I've never made a plugin or heard of a plugin with that name..."
     
  18. Offline

    WhosDaMan

    They should make one like that. Not sure what it would do, though. Maybe something along the lines of, oh I don't know...Instant Death?
     
    PurelySatanic likes this.
  19. Offline

    lastof

    Nope! @PurelySatanic is right. He/She ONLY has to give the source if they distribute the binary. That is how GPL works. So long as he doesn't distribute the binary to someone his is under no obligation to give away the code. Notice how the GPL3 Licence refers to conveying. I really hate it when people who haven't read/don't understand the GPL start claiming it calls for things it doesn't.

    Of course this doesn't mean they aren't breaking other plugins' licences if they are under other licences with different terms (it's quite possible that modifying then running code could be forbidden by a licence... not sure how that would stand up to consumers laws in a court, but I wouldn't like to test it).

    My skim though also doesn't spot anything about claiming to own GPLed code that you are not distributing. I'd suspect that the original authors could sue for credit if they could prove that 1. Claims had been made and 2. It was based on their code (if the licence doesn't specify then I believe we just fall back on copyright law) but I doubt they could really claim that much damage had been done to them.

    If the claims are true I hate to be on their side, but as far as I can tell they may well not be breaking any licenses, and assuming the plugin published on this site doesn't contain stolen code, and fraudulent claims haven't been made here, then I hope that the admins won't start banning people for things done elsewhere. It isn't a big step from that to banning people because they can't prove someone with a similar user name somewhere else isn't them.
     
    Vhab likes this.
  20. Offline

    ThatBox

    How do you even know he/she stole the code? Was it the latest gossip? And if so, what plugin's code was stolen? It seems you are not releasing the most important information.
     
  21. Offline

    NuclearW

    I am seeing a lot of slandering by you @SuperSala of @PurelySatanic without anything other than vague accusations, and I'm going to ask you to stop that.

    As a general rule, Bukkit does not permit posting of plugins to either these forums or BukkitDev that are copies or derivatives without the original author's permission. If you @SuperSala believe that @PurelySatanic had posted any plugins to the Bukkit forums or BukkitDev that are in violation of this, please feel free to message me or any other moderator with specifics.

    However, if you are simply complaining because a developer is modifying plugins for personal use and then boasting about that fact on a non-Bukkit website, I am not sure what you are asking us to do or why you need to bring this fact up on the Bukkit forums.

    If you know what plugins have been modified for personal use and those plugins do not have licenses permitting such personal modification you should message the author of that plugin so that he can then decide if he wants to pursue his copyright against a developer in question.
     
  22. GPL:
     
  23. Offline

    Vhab

    @V10lator You're aware the material you quoted backs up @lastof 's argument right?
     
  24. Why? He modified bukkit and made it available to the public (not via downloads, but the server has public access).
     
  25. Offline

    Vhab

    That's not how it works.
    Read the license in detail, this is all covered in there.
     
  26. No, I'm not, making things available to the public can be giving it or showing it to others. Second is what he does. Also no word from your side on the modify statement.
     
  27. Offline

    Vhab

    Are you a lawyer? Don't answer, because I know you're not.
    You're misunderstanding the license.

    I haven't said anything about modifying because it's not relevant.
    He can modify it all he wants as long as he doesn't make it public.
    And no, hosting a public server doesn't count as such.

    Now please, stop making a fool out of yourself.
    You're spreading misinformation and potentially confusing other readers.
     
  28. Are you? Doesn't sound so, too.
    I showed some examples of the license where it clearly says modifying is forbidden in any case.
    Also, once again: Showing things to the public counts to "making available".
     
  29. Offline

    Vhab

    I work in a field where it is expected of me to know how to deal with licensed code like GPL.
    Just because you're persistent and read a few paragraphs of the license, it doesn't mean you fully understand it.
    You're wrong. I can't state it any other way.

    Since you won't take my word for it.
     
  30. Offline

    NuclearW

    Gentlemen please, this is not the place for arguing about licenses. If you really must, please take it to private messages.
     
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