On Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:40:55 +0000 (GMT), Stuart wrote in message <206864.11472...@web26005.mail.ukl.yahoo.com>:
> Hi All, > > I've received a couple of final comments. V1.4 of the statement is > below. > > I think we've now got a statement that everyone on the -dev list is > happy with. > > Curt - Can you please uploaded it to the main FG website and add a > link from the Announcements page. I'll then send out some emails to > various FlightSim websites. > > Thanks to everyone for commenting. > > -Stuart > > Jon S. Bernt wrote: > > FlightGear is AN open source flight simulator. > Whoops. Corrected. > > John Denker wrote: > >> Q: Is it legal for the makers of Flight Pro Sim to simply re-brand > >> FlightGear ? A: Yes. Under the GNU GPL v2 > >> (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html), this is legal, provided > >> that they distribute the source code (or make it available). We do > >> not know if this is the case or not. > > > >It would be better to leave out the initial "Yes" here. > > > >A similar "Yes" was removed from the next FAQ. The same > >logic applies here. > Good point. Sorted. > > Bob Faulkner wrote: > >>Q: I have purchased Flight Pro Sim. Can I get a refund ? > >>A: That is something you will have to take up with the distributors > >>of Flight Pro Sim. > > > >Change "makers" to "distributors" > Curt also suggested "affiliate", but I think that's something that > will be lost on the average buyer, and (as Bob pointed out) > distributor is the phrase used in the GPL, so I've used "distributor". > > === > > FlightGear Flight Pro Sim Statement (v1.4): > > As many people will be aware, there is a new flight simulator product > that is being widely and actively marketed at the moment - Flight Pro > Sim. As it is almost entirely based on FlightGear, there is some > confusion between the two. To help provide some clarity, and answer > some common questions, we (the core FlightGear development team) felt > it was appropriate to make a statement, and provide a FAQ. > > FlightGear is an open-source flight simulator that was started in > 1996. It is released under the GNU General Public License v2, and as > such, it is free to use, modify and distribute with few restrictions. > It has been developed with the collaboration of a large number of > individuals over the last 12 years. FlightGear can be downloaded at > no cost from http://www.flightgear.org. > > Flight Pro Sim is a commercial product very heavily based on > FlightGear. Investigation by a number of the FlightGear developers > has found no difference between this and the FlightGear v1.9.1 > release other than a change of name. Flight Pro Sim is in no way > endorsed or supported by the core FlightGear development team. > > Given the similarities between Flight Pro Sim and FlightGear, we > would recommend that prospective buyers download FlightGear for free > and satisfy themselves that Flight Pro Sim provides worthwhile value > for money before purchasing it. > > FAQ: > > Q: What is the difference between FlightGear and Flight Pro Sim? > A: As far as we have been able to make out, the only difference > between FlightGear v1.9.1 and Flight Pro Sim is a change in name > throughout the software, and the fact that you have to pay for it. > > Q: Is it legal for the makers of Flight Pro Sim to simply re-brand > FlightGear ? A: Under the GNU GPL v2 > (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html), this is legal, provided > that they distribute the source code (or make it available). We do > not know if this is the case or not. ..add: "Without such source code made available, the GPL "falls away" and all Flight Pro Sim distributors face criminal litigation for their copyright violations." > Q: Is it legal to sell a copy of FlightGear, whether re-branded or > not ? A: Yes, provided the seller is in compliance with a number of > conditions detailed in the GPL. In fact, those interested in > receiving a DVD containing FlightGear may do so through the main > FlightGear website, and directly contribute to the project (though > they may want to wait for the upcoming release in the new year). > > Q: Has Flight Pro Sim paid any money to FlightGear for the rights to > the program ? A: No. No such payment is required, as FlightGear is > GPL software. ..this is a dead wrong way of answering these 2 independent questions, GPL being free-as-in-freedom, and "No such payment is required" because it just by some accident happens to be free-bee(r) too, these 2 independent questions needs to be split up, and they each deserves an independent answer. ..say: "A. No. We the FlightGear Authors, do not offer FlightGear code under any other license than the GPL, nor under any "commercial license agreement" contract", since the GPL is fully adequate for any use and any and all lawful distribution. We are happy to accept donations and contributions, and even political and financial support, but this is not a requirement under the GPL." > Q: Why do the FlightGear developers allow this ? ..define "this", or rephrase the question to ask if or why we let the "Flight Pro Sim" get away with this. > A: The freedom to modify and enhance FlightGear is a core part of the > project, and of open-source in general. Restricting the modifications > that are allowed and what people can do with the software goes > against that ethos. ..here we should refer to the GPL, and copyright law, and how we use those 2 to enforce "that ethos." > Q: Is there any relationship between the makers of Flight Pro Sim and > the FlightGear Project? A: No. > > Q: Has Flight Pro Sim contributed to the FlightGear project at all ? > A: No. > > Q: I have purchased Flight Pro Sim. Can I get a refund ? > A: That is something you will have to take up with the distributors > of Flight Pro Sim. ..say: "A: Ask the distributors of Flight Pro Sim." -- ..med vennlig hilsen = with Kind Regards from Arnt... ;o) ...with a number of polar bear hunters in his ancestry... Scenarios always come in sets of three: best case, worst case, and just in case. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Verizon Developer Community Take advantage of Verizon's best-in-class app development support A streamlined, 14 day to market process makes app distribution fast and easy Join now and get one step closer to millions of Verizon customers http://p.sf.net/sfu/verizon-dev2dev _______________________________________________ Flightgear-devel mailing list Flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/flightgear-devel
