08-13-2011, 09:41 PM | #1 |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
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Hamstersoft Ebook Converter rips off calibre
A hot new ebook converter popped up just over a month ago, and it turns out there's a problem with it.
Hamstersoft was hailed by all the tech blogs as this great new way to covert ebooks from one format to another. It had a simple interface, foolproof operation, and a lot of enthusiastic users. Unfortunately, the Hamstersoft Ebook Converter is also a pretty egregious example of copyright infringement. According to John Schember (a calibre contributor) the Hamstersoft Ebook Converter uses large chunks of code from the calibre ebook library app and doesn't comply with certain GPL (GNU General Public License) conditions. You can find the full details over on John Schember's blog. It's technically complicated and quite long. You can also find a basic summary here. |
08-13-2011, 09:53 PM | #2 |
Wizard
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I don't know if people boycotting that company will help the situation, but personally I'll stay away from them and their products. Thanks for the summary. I also thank John for the details on his blog. I'm getting an education in various subjects around here, in a constant barrage.
Last edited by unboggling; 08-13-2011 at 09:57 PM. |
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08-13-2011, 10:51 PM | #3 |
Retired
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I'm for the boycott. I'll spread the word to anyone I see using it. Even though I've never heard of it until now.
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08-13-2011, 10:56 PM | #4 |
Armed with a smile :)
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I hadn't heard of HamsterSoft either, but I strongly support Calibre and the ideas behind the GPL.
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08-14-2011, 12:22 AM | #5 |
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^this
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08-14-2011, 12:28 AM | #6 |
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Well you know you have a good piece of software when someone steals it I guess.
Ethically speaking the Hamstersoft people should have contacted Kovid and others announcing their intention to utilize any of the calibre code. Saying that, I once worked on a contract project for an entrpreneur who was a professor at a major university in British Columbia. I was warned by co-workers to not leave any source code around till I was paid. I heeded this warning and was let go without payment (they thought they had the source code). After receiving several threatening phone calls, to which I responded rudely they paid me and I gave them the source code. Was not perhaps my finest hour but I needed the money. Hamstersoft may not be able to comply with the GNU licensing because they do not have the ability to do so (copy of their sourcecode and/or rights to it). I suspect they will not prosper. Helen |
08-14-2011, 03:56 AM | #7 | |
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Hamster FAQ
Quote from the Hamster FAQ:
Quote:
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08-14-2011, 04:19 AM | #8 | |
Wizard
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Quote:
Graham |
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08-14-2011, 04:22 AM | #9 |
Author's pet-geek
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08-14-2011, 04:53 AM | #10 | |
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Quote:
Last edited by DoctorOhh; 08-14-2011 at 07:32 AM. Reason: spelling |
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08-14-2011, 07:26 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
And often the most relevant, too. |
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08-14-2011, 07:31 AM | #12 |
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08-14-2011, 01:37 PM | #13 |
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Leaving ethics aside, if it uses a better conversion plugin for mobi than calibre, I'm sold, if it stole the same flawed thing then I'll stick to Amazon's solution...
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08-14-2011, 02:36 PM | #14 |
Banned
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Since it is M$ ONLY they will not even tempt me to try it ;-)
happy Linux user for past 5 years ;=] |
08-14-2011, 08:56 PM | #15 |
Sigil & calibre developer
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It uses calibre for all conversion. It's just a fancy GUI on top of calibre. I haven't looked in a bit but Kovid was completely rewriting MOBI output. I don't know if he's completed it or not.
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