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Domain: cittio.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to cittio.com.

Comments · 6

  1. Re:You don't know they are in violation by Ranger+Rick · · Score: 2, Interesting · on Dealing With a GPL Violation?

    "So what's all this then?"

    Well, that link says they're running OpenNMS 1.0.2, which, given the questions Cittio employees have asked on the OpenNMS mailing lists in the past, seems very unlikely (although technically possible). If they *are* using 1.0.2, they very likely *have* made modifications, 'cause that code has plenty of bugs that have been fixed in later OpenNMS releases. ;)

    One thing that Tarus didn't really mention is that we (The OpenNMS Group) have had a few folks come to us wanting quotes to compare us to Cittio, and they've been rather surprised that Cittio is in fact already using OpenNMS under the covers. The problem is not with them using OpenNMS, OpenNMS is all about sticking not only to the letter but also the spirit of the GPL, and they can do whatever they want with it as long as they're complying with the distribution requirements of the license. The problem is whether Cittio *is* upholding their side of the GPL, and it's unclear whether they are -- and there are some signs that they might not be.

    As for them not having to offer the source until they distribute the software, yes, that's true, but from what we've heard from existing Cittio customers, that is not being made clear to them. Not only that, but while the wording of the GPL may not make it obvious, the FAQ does:

    The difference between this and "incorporating" the GPL-covered software is partly a matter of substance and partly form. The substantive part is this: if the two programs are combined so that they become effectively two parts of one program, then you can't treat them as two separate programs. So the GPL has to cover the whole thing.

    If the two programs remain well separated, like the compiler and the kernel, or like an editor and a shell, then you can treat them as two separate programs--but you have to do it properly. The issue is simply one of form: how you describe what you are doing. Why do we care about this? Because we want to make sure the users clearly understand the free status of the GPL-covered software in the collection.

    It seems likely that they've incorporated OpenNMS into their software at a lower-level than just screen-scraping it's output and stuffing it into their own UI. At that point, they should be prepared to provide the modified OpenNMS source to their customers. Not only that, but considering how tough companies are on open-source developers accidentally "tainting" open-source code with IP from their closed-source employers, it's more than a tad annoying that many closed-source companies taking advantage of open-source software are happy to use it, but ignore the spirit of sharing that is part of being in the community. "We won't say anything, but if you do ask us for the source, we'll fax it to you." ;)

    Again, all this is unproven, and that's part of the reason Tarus posted, the question is -- what's the next step?

  2. Re:You don't know they are in violation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1 · on Dealing With a GPL Violation?

    Worse, OpenNMS wouldn't be the only ones getting angry.

          http://www.cittio.com/technology/open-source.html

    The post would have been more appropriate if it read "We are a number of GPL software maintainers and there is this company that has refused...".

    FAIL again.

  3. What's the menu path to that? by ribman · · Score: 1 · on Dealing With a GPL Violation?

    So what's all this then? http://www.cittio.com/products/open_source_components.html Yes, that link works fine, but I stepped back up their menu to see how prominently they link to it for the public's sake and I can't find it ... ? Can you describe the menu clicks to get to it? If it's not in the menu or linked somehow, then it is not really a public page - it's only visible if someone gives you the direct link. (like you did)
    (Not that I support either case regarding the greater debate raised here.)
  4. Re:You don't know they are in violation by rsax · · Score: 2, Informative · on Dealing With a GPL Violation?
    From the linked site

    "postgresql-8.0.2.tar.gz ... GNU General Public License (GPL)"

    Wrong license. As mentioned on the PostgreSQL site page, the project uses the BSD license.

  5. You don't know they are in violation by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Informative · on Dealing With a GPL Violation?
    For a start you claim:

    When I brought up the fact that parts of Watchtower are based on OpenNMS, the client replied "I could not find one ounce of mention on their website to OpenNMS or any other Open Source code that is running on this product. That really irritates me." So what's all this then?

    You also make the claim:

    I should also mention that this client is in final negotiations with Cittio (they dropped their initial price considerably) so we're not talking a first contact cold call here - they are ready to close this deal without a single detail concerning their use of open source. Yes, and? They are not required to make any such disclosures. The GPL requires them to provide the source code or an offer to provide the source code when they distribute the software. As they haven't distributed any software yet, they are not required to provide any source code or offers to provide the source code.

    FAIL.

  6. Re:Open source network analysis tools by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Trying to Help a Troubled Network with Linux?

    Cittio WatchTower is a linux based Network Monitoring Tool also. http://www.cittio.com/