Hamstersoft Ebook Converter rips off calibre - Page 2

JSWolf · 08-15-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

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.

What is going to be new/different/improved in the new mobi output?

Harry_Y · 08-15-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filark

I hadn't heard of HamsterSoft either, but I strongly support Calibre and the ideas behind the GPL.

Same here

Plus it runs under Linux

Timoleon · 08-15-2011, 12:15 PM

Looks like HamsterSoft has removed the ebook converter from their website.

I think they took notice once the controversy appeared on SlashDot.

kovidgoyal · 08-15-2011, 01:09 PM

Yes, they say they are going to release the source code properly this time. We shall see.

alansplace · 08-15-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timoleon

Looks like HamsterSoft has removed the ebook converter from their website.

I think they took notice once the controversy appeared on SlashDot.

this seems to imply that hamstersoft would rather not distribute the app than release the source code that they are/were holding back. isn't that suspicious behavior implying that they have something to hide in that code?

user_none · 08-15-2011, 01:15 PM

They contacted me earlier today. I will post an update on the situation once I've discussed it with them.

theducks · 08-15-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansplace

this seems to imply that hamstersoft would rather not distribute the app than release the source code that they are/were holding back. isn't that suspicious behavior implying that they have something to hide in that code?

My thoughts exactly

MrsJoseph · 08-15-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

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.

Thanks for this information. I support Calibre (since Calibre supports me!). I have passed this information (along with the link to John's blog) to everyone I know who is into ebook converting.

It's just sad. A group came together to make money off of the hard work of a lot of different developers backs. The entire company seems just to make GUIs and nothing else. Of course they could make a great looking wrapper...someone else did all the hard work!

alansplace · 08-15-2011, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

....The entire company seems just to make GUIs and nothing else....!

i suspect, because they seem to be reluctant to release/show the gui's source code, that the gui may not be all theirs and maybe was ripped off too (only even less legitimately than the case with calibre's open-source code).

CazMar · 08-15-2011, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timoleon

Looks like HamsterSoft has removed the ebook converter from their website.

I think they took notice once the controversy appeared on SlashDot.

The power of "name and shame"!!!
I have been telling all my friends and other students at university how useful Calibre has been for my ebook reading and management. May it long continue to grow and flourish.

user_none · 08-15-2011, 07:38 PM

I was contacted by HamsterSoft on August 15, 2011. They have taken down the Hamster Free Ebook Converter and have told me they are working to bring it into compliance with the GPL. They said it may take a few weeks. I will post more information as the situation develops.

AnneT · 08-18-2011, 08:34 AM

This appeared on the Hamstersoft website today:

Quote:

PUBLIC APOLOGY
2011-08-18

HamsterSoft, on behalf of all its members, would like to apologize to Kovid Goyal and John Schember for the fact that since the launch of the Hamster Free eBook Converter program our company has not satisfied all of the GPL v.3 license conditions.

Our Company developers realize that the creators of Calibre have made enormous efforts during the past few years, and we respect the labor of other programmers. It was distressing for us to discover that we, either directly or indirectly, have impeded the work of others – that we have not supported their idea of development of the new software on the basis of open code.

Over the last few days we have conducted a lot of work in order to eliminate the existing defects. We hope that Kovid, John, and the other Calibre developers will consider the license agreement met and community interests complied with, and that they will accept our sincere apologies so that our company can continue to efficiently and easily create new free software for forty world languages.

HamsterSoft

MrsJoseph · 08-18-2011, 08:50 AM

Thank you both for the updates. I hope they comply.

They still need to completely remove the download: http://ebook.hamstersoft.com/en/support but I have hopes that they will comply soon.

user_none · 08-18-2011, 08:57 AM

They removed it earlier this week. I spoke with them yesterday and they had me look at a new source package. It was in compliance. Since they put the download back up I'm assuming they've also put up the new source package. I can't confirm though because I'm at work right now.

MrsJoseph · 08-18-2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

They removed it earlier this week. I spoke with them yesterday and they had me look at a new source package. It was in compliance. Since they put the download back up I'm assuming they've also put up the new source package. I can't confirm though because I'm at work right now.

That download is only available on the "support" page, the main page still shows a message that the software is not available for download.

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08-15-2011, 12:15 PM	#18
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 387 Karma: 1151316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: iPad 3, iPhone 5, Kindle 3, Fire, Sony PRS-350	Looks like HamsterSoft has removed the ebook converter from their website. I think they took notice once the controversy appeared on SlashDot.

08-15-2011, 01:09 PM	#19
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Yes, they say they are going to release the source code properly this time. We shall see.

08-15-2011, 01:15 PM	#21
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,488 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	They contacted me earlier today. I will post an update on the situation once I've discussed it with them.

08-15-2011, 07:38 PM	#26
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,488 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	I was contacted by HamsterSoft on August 15, 2011. They have taken down the Hamster Free Ebook Converter and have told me they are working to bring it into compliance with the GPL. They said it may take a few weeks. I will post more information as the situation develops.

08-18-2011, 08:50 AM	#28
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	Thank you both for the updates. I hope they comply. They still need to completely remove the download: http://ebook.hamstersoft.com/en/support but I have hopes that they will comply soon.

08-18-2011, 08:57 AM	#29
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,488 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	They removed it earlier this week. I spoke with them yesterday and they had me look at a new source package. It was in compliance. Since they put the download back up I'm assuming they've also put up the new source package. I can't confirm though because I'm at work right now.

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