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NeoNapster's NeoAudio Rips Off CDex

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the gpl-violations-are-not-nice dept.

mydoghasworms writes "There's an interesting thing going down at CDex. Apparently the CDex application has been ripped off by NeoNapster, replacing the logo and adding some spyware and adware. (For those not in the know, CDex is a very nice, very easy-to-use GPL (as in Open Source) Audio CD Ripper). The user comments at download.com make for a very entertaining read."

6 of 481 comments (clear)

  1. Ummmm So what? by Spoons · · Score: 4, Informative

    What's the big deal here? They aren't in violation of the GPL. They have the source available for download. Why is this news again?

  2. and we should care because? by DemiKnute · · Score: 5, Informative

    The problem is not so much that their taking someone's GPL'd program and redistributing it under a new name, but that they are removing the original author's (Albert L Faber) copyright notices. The author's copyright of the program must be maintained in order for the GPL to be effective, otherwise people (like these) could completely jack the code and release it under any liscense they want.

    But we should consider ourselves lucky that they're releasing it under the GPL and the source code is still available at the bottom of this page.

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  3. This is what by burgburgburg · · Score: 5, Informative

    While the source is available for download, they've removed/changed copyright strings. That is a violation of the GPL. That's what.

  4. Re:Before anybody starts screaming "GPL violation" by CoolVibe · · Score: 5, Informative
    They changed the copyright strings... That's a definite no-no. Basically they really stole the source, and claim they are the sole authors.

    Obviously, the GPL does not allow this. The only way for them to make it right is to change the copyright back to what it was, and add themselves to it, if they contributed code.

  5. Re:Viral nature of the GPL by sbeitzel · · Score: 4, Informative

    Sorta. I take your tongue-in-cheek sarcastic point, but you're not quite correct about the BSD license. It, too, requires that derivative works retain the copyright information -- which is the violation of the GPL that we're seeing.

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    Oh, go on, check out my job.
  6. If you use CDex... by bhsx · · Score: 5, Informative

    Please Support them. I'm sure every bit helps, I've just sent my $5USD.

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    put the what in the where?