Development Non tech Community firmware

the GPL licence is a very open and unselfish model where future developers have the chance to use the code developed by any individual or company. this is why the source code publishing is important. If a company does not agree with this they should not use the previous developed code and start from scratch. So for the layman you can use anybody work under GPL as long as you put back your work into the community pot by publishing your source code. this is a very innovative model allowing companies or individual to come with quick solutions and MAKE A PROFIT for as long as they contribute back. Withholding your source code is like stealing the code and putting your name on it and not wanting to share further. GPL license should be enforced drastically by not complying is stealing not from a company or individual but from a whole community. Jcase is right retailer profiting from GPL infringement is as guilty as the developer.

Oh, I agree about the importance of the GPL. I was just surprised by how far the legal ramifications go, since to avoid liability, a retailer would have to check every piece of software on every device for copyright violations, even those stemming from failure of the original manufacturer to live up to license obligations on open source, which I would imagine to be especially difficult to track down. If retailers actually did that level of due diligence work, I don't see how there could even be a retail electronics industry, hence the surprise that they're required to.

which is saying again do not do it. probably this is why edge never made it to the retailers yet!

Originally Posted by Chubulor

Oh, I agree about the importance of the GPL. I was just surprised by how far the legal ramifications go, since to avoid liability, a retailer would have to check every piece of software on every device for copyright violations, even those stemming from failure of the original manufacturer to live up to license obligations on open source, which I would imagine to be especially difficult to track down. If retailers actually did that level of due diligence work, I don't see how there could even be a retail electronics industry, hence the surprise that they're required to.

Most people using the GPL are reasonable, and don't seek damages, just injunctions. If your company is selling products not in compliance, either come in compliant or stop selling them. Most retailers will just drop the product line.

Originally Posted by MichaelV

which is saying again do not do it. probably this is why edge never made it to the retailers yet!

The edge is at a retailer I believe, bestbuy.

I see USD 499+6 delivery so it is cheaper to buy from best buy. 24 hrs passed now. did entourage updated the source code? Robot svn idea is good. or a google code project maintaining the most updated code all the time?

Originally Posted by MichaelV

I see USD 499+6 delivery so it is cheaper to buy from best buy. 24 hrs passed now. did entourage updated the source code? Robot svn idea is good. or a google code project maintaining the most updated code all the time?

There deserve a little more time, they are working on it.

A repository would be great.

Originally Posted by NiaTrue

Jos., dank u. Je bent een echte gentleman (I’m only just learning Dutch, so I apologize if the grammar is off). My colleague doesn’t do mediation, at least not on forums anyway. He might be interested in the intellectual property issues (this is often done pro bono), but do you really think that’s necessary?

I might be a Pollyanna (I realize she is abhorred by the Dutch), but they’ve released the code! And although two posters are saying it isn’t complete, enTourage is checking to be sure. Why not wait for their response? Dontpanic says they’ll have one within 24 hours. It could be an oversight, or (*gasp*) jcase could be wrong. If neither of those is the case, there’s a lot that can be done, but you realize even successful intellectual property cases for something as seemingly simple as the GPL could take a year or more to resolve. Such a long fight would be no small price to pay for the folks who wrote the source code, and if it were me, I’d wait forever. BUT, if you want the code to create apps, do you really want to wait a year for it—by which time a victory would be irrelevant?

NiaTrue,

Je Nederlands is goed! en je leert de juiste woorden!

No, it is absolute not my intention to put up a fight about gpl and source code!
I't rather see that entourage and the community developers come together and therefore I was talking about mediation by someone with a background and knowledge about law.

Let's hope this dispute will be solved soon and the users of the eDGe can have the best of both worlds.

Originally Posted by jcase

There deserve a little more time, they are working on it.

A repository would be great.

Thank you and I promise more is on the way. A repo would be a good idea huh? I'll look into setting one up when the rest of the code is ready (which will be soon).

I wanted to make one comment about the recent board commotion about GPL code:

I know you guys have your hearts in the right place. Open Source software is very important for advancing technology, especially for the little guy, and we at enTourage respect that and are excited to participate. I feel like we have already explained ourselves and satisfied the crowd that the rest of the GPL code is on the way. But please keep in mind for the future however, that when dealing with small start-ups like ours, don't squeeze so tight that you end up hurting them. Like most start-ups, we're just busy people trying to deliver a high quality product.

We'll make a post in this dev board when the rest of the GPL code is posted to the website.

Originally Posted by PonMan

Thank you and I promise more is on the way. A repo would be a good idea huh? I'll look into setting one up when the rest of the code is ready (which will be soon).

I wanted to make one comment about the recent board commotion about GPL code:

I know you guys have your hearts in the right place. Open Source software is very important for advancing technology, especially for the little guy, and we at enTourage respect that and are excited to participate. I feel like we have already explained ourselves and satisfied the crowd that the rest of the GPL code is on the way. But please keep in mind for the future however, that when dealing with small start-ups like ours, don't squeeze so tight that you end up hurting them. Like most start-ups, we're just busy people trying to deliver a high quality product.

We'll make a post in this dev board when the rest of the GPL code is posted to the website.

As previously explained, you got squeezed because when we (by we, I mean I) requested the code, and was shot down rudely and told my request was not legit, before I ever made any squeeze attempt. Then my name was compared to a video game character by an employee of enTourage. I had no intent on squeezing anyone, my intent on coming here was to ensure interoperability on some applications, and help a friend with an issue.

Don't pretend you got squeezed out of the blue, it was a reaction to staff actions. I don't really want to bring this up again, but I am also not going to let the results be blamed squarely on us (me).

this is what developers want for Entourage to play ball for the advantage of them and community. I hope they finally start realizing that is in their interest to comply and not to be arrogant about following the terms of the licensing model they subscribed to.

Originally Posted by MichaelV

this is what developers want for Entourage to play ball for the advantage of them and community. I hope they finally start realizing that is in their interest to comply and not to be arrogant about following the terms of the licensing model they subscribed to.

I have no doubts in my mind they are working towards compliance.

I think PonMan is (with the) Entourage Development team. Thanks for joining us. Jcase was not the first one to ask for the source code and been badly treated by Entourage staff which is not admissible. Entourage MUST realize that we have common goals.
Open source is important for startup companies like you because you can grab whatever is in the open source code without paying a license fee and you can make a commercial product QUICK which you can sell for PROFIT. The only think GPL license is asking from you is to give back to community what you take by making public you code modification. This way you enlarge the open source and open source products are becoming competitive with closed products offered by Microsoft or Apple for example. You must explain this to your managers PonMan.
You can always go back to closed / proprietary source model in your devices so we will not ask to make public your source than. We are users and developers that believe in open source, this is why we purchased your products and we do not want to hurt you, on the contrary.
So please comply asap and your device will become a success.

I believe they are trying, to come in compliance. I think the company is possibly spread out between the US and asia, judging from material I found in firmware, and from pre-release material that was shown to me. That could make it hectic.

yes, us, china, india......