Ask HN: My Open-Source project is on eBay. What should I do?

6 points by jcoffland 5 years ago | 7 comments
I just find out that my GPL'ed CNC software, CAMotics is being sold on EBay. The seller clearly made modifications and I don't see any way to access the modified source. Isn't this a license violation? Has anyone else had this happen to them?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-simulator-software-for-CAD-CAm-milling-machine-or-router/113808167909

Real software: https://camotics.org/

  • mindcrime 5 years ago
    Isn't this a license violation?

    That depends. If people who buy "their" software get the modified source along with it, and it's also under the terms of the GPL, then they are compliant AFAIK. They can also just put up a link to download the source, but IIRC, that's not required if it's shipped with the CD (or whatever kind of media they are distributing).

    OTOH, if they are really complying and releasing their patches under the GPL, you could spend the $19.00 to buy one of their distributions, then turn around and put their patches back into your base software if you wanted to.

    • johnnyo 5 years ago
      Just because they are selling something on eBay doesn't mean they are violating the GPL.

      They are allowed to take your code, modify it, and sell it.

      If the CD they are distributing contains their modified code, or a link to where it can be downloaded, then I think they would be in the clear.

      • jcoffland 5 years ago
        Right, but they must retain the original copyright notices and provide the source code. I'm asking the person who bought the software to verify if this is the case.

        I don't mind so much someone selling my software on a CD. What I do mind is that they changed the name to trick the buyer. Perhaps I should be using a different license.

        • johnnyo 5 years ago
          GPL allows you to change the name.

          I'm not aware of an open source license that prevents someone from renaming the software to whatever they want.

          • jcoffland 5 years ago
            There isn't any open source license that prevents me from not liking it either.
      • aiscapehumanity 5 years ago
        Wish I could help, peaking around them and some others seems to show that there is a larger a rabbit hole in eBay of open source resellers.
        • carapace 5 years ago
          Ask the FSF https://www.fsf.org