Hamstersoft Ebook Converter rips off calibre

Nate the great · 08-13-2011, 09:41 PM

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.

unboggling · 08-13-2011, 09:53 PM

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.

The Terminator · 08-13-2011, 10:51 PM

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.

Filark · 08-13-2011, 10:56 PM

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

gbermor · 08-14-2011, 12:22 AM

^this

speakingtohe · 08-14-2011, 12:28 AM

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

hakim · 08-14-2011, 03:56 AM

Quote from the Hamster FAQ:

Quote:

Hamster Free eBook Converter made by HamsterSoft and based on Calibre-engine created by Kovid Goyal and inherits all GNU GPL 3.0 restrictions.

NOTE PLEASE: Everybody may use Hamster Free eBook Converter on any computer at home, in business and government organizations without any restrictions and any amount of hosts. You don't need to register or pay for Hamster Free eBook Converter. No one needs to pay for any further updates and plugins.

Source code

Graham · 08-14-2011, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hakim

Quote from the Hamster FAQ:

According to John's blog, that source code package is incomplete, and does not contain the key sections which relate to Hamstersoft's GUI or the changes they may have made to calibre.

Graham

MrPLD · 08-14-2011, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Was not perhaps my finest hour but I needed the money.

I would say the opposite - it was indeed one of your finer hours. Well done on standing your ground.

(as a software developer myself).

DoctorOhh · 08-14-2011, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hakim

Quote from the Hamster FAQ:

I find it is better to read the full details of the referenced article before posting, otherwise you end up posting irrelevant information.

fjtorres · 08-14-2011, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

I find it is better to read the full details of the referenced article before posting, otherwise you end up posting irreverent information.

Irreverent information is the most amusing information, don't you know?
And often the most relevant, too.

DoctorOhh · 08-14-2011, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Irreverent

You gave me a great laugh at myself at the expense of my own spelling.

johnnyb · 08-14-2011, 01:37 PM

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...

hairybiker · 08-14-2011, 02:36 PM

Since it is M$ ONLY they will not even tempt me to try it ;-)

happy Linux user for past 5 years ;=]

user_none · 08-14-2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyb

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...

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.

08-13-2011, 09:41 PM	#1
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	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
unboggling Wizard Posts: 1,065 Karma: 858115 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kobo Clara, Kindle Paperwhite 10	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
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	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.

08-13-2011, 10:56 PM	#4
Filark Armed with a smile :) Posts: 1,421 Karma: 2463560 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California, USA Device: enTourage eDGe & Pocket eDGe, Samsung Galaxy Note II	I hadn't heard of HamsterSoft either, but I strongly support Calibre and the ideas behind the GPL.

08-14-2011, 12:22 AM	#5
gbermor Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 74190 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Device: Sony PRS-300, Kindle/SO	^this

08-14-2011, 12:28 AM	#6
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	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, 01:37 PM	#13
johnnyb Cloud Reader Posts: 1,110 Karma: 4000066 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle Scribe, iPad Pro 11	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...

08-14-2011, 02:36 PM	#14
hairybiker Banned Posts: 82 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Tolino Shine 3	Since it is M$ ONLY they will not even tempt me to try it ;-) happy Linux user for past 5 years ;=]

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