[ubuntu-uk] [OT] Open Source Project kafuffle...

[James Milligan]

On 7 Aug 2009, at 21:34, Steve <yorvik.ubunto at googlemail.com> wrote:

> On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:12:24 +0100, James Milligan <lake54 at lake54.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Harry Rickards wrote:
>>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>>> Hash: SHA1
>>>
>>> James Milligan wrote:
>>>
>>>> Off-topic I know, but does anyone have roughly any idea what to do?
>>>>
>>>> An open source project which I contribute to (in small amounts,  
>>>> through
>>>> documentation/support etc), has effectively 'gone' - the lead
>>>> developer,
>>>> who owns the website, basically makes the software etc - has
>>>> disappeared, and answers no messages via email/facebook etc,  
>>>> doesn't
>>>> pay
>>>> the website hosting fees (causing the website to show unavailable  
>>>> etc).
>>>>
>>>>
>>> <snip>
>>>
>>>> License:
>>>> 1. You agree that you will not amend contents of this forum  
>>>> software,
>>>> repackage it and distribute it to others unless specified  
>>>> elsewhere in
>>>> this agreement or when consent is given by the developers of this
>>>> software.
>>>>
>>>> I'm assuming that that means that I can't do anything about it?
>>>>
>>>> Is there any way around this, as he has given up with no  
>>>> announcements
>>>> etc?
>>>>
>>>> Any help would be appreciated!
>>>>
>>>> James
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> How much do you contribute to the project? If you contribute code,  
>>> could
>>> you not classify yourself as a developer of the software, and give
>>> yourself permission to amend the contents, repackage and  
>>> distribute it?
>>>
>>> - --
>>> Thanks
>>> Harry Rickards <hrickards at l33tmyst.com>
>>>
>>>
>> Hi Harry,
>>
> <Snip>
>>
>> What do you reckon to the legality of that though? I mean it  
>> explicitly
>> states 'the developers of the software', which the coders /are/, so
>> certainly if there's a majority, it ought to be right?
>>
>> Thanks for your help.
>>
>> James
>>
>
> I'd argue anybody that contributed is a developer.  Doesn't matter  
> if you
> provide code. Beta testing, documentation etc. are part of the  
> development.
>
> -- 
> Steve

Thanks for your reply (and to the other one as well)

Yea actually on heinsight it isn't open source - I originally thought  
it was, but obviously not.

@Harry - so technically I'm a developer? Cool :-) ill talk to the  
other developers and work something out. I'll send a message to the PL  
as well, giving him a week to reply, then we'll start the project  
under a different name.

Thanks for everyone's help, and I'll post a link as soon as the  
website has been set up.

James