GPL-violation by DVD2SVCD!

[shh]

Today, I must see that you are using MY GPL-CODE for your program and don't think about releasing sources...

A log I got at ultimateboard:
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10.01.2002 00:18:58
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2SVCD ver. 1.0.4 build 2
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
...
...
Video Encoding
--------------------------------------------------------
OK
Closing program
StreamSectors: 1668566928
AudioSectors: 89720344
VideoPAPO: 24457176
ScanOffsetBytes: 207363
SeqAligningBytes: 13179071
VideoEndHeader: 8
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 1.00
PureMPEGStream: 1541002966.33
Seconds: 5532.68
...

You have completely stolen my (known to be the best) bitrate- and image-calculator from FitCD ( http://members.tripod.de/fitcd/ )!

And, as I see here, you are still using it in newer versions:
http://rilanparty.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13430

According to the GPL-licence of FitCD, you'll have to release the sources of DVD2SVCD, or remove the code immediatly.
(Oh, we all know these GPL-violation stories from Vidomi, do we?)

So, dvd2svcd, what is this?? :mad:


Regards,
shh

[dvd2svcd]

I have posted a private message to you where you can see my entire code of the bitrate calculation. As you will see I do use some of the same Variable Names as you do, but look at the code and you will see that it is no where near your code, not even the result bitrate is equal to your result.

[Jono182]

yay for gpl!

[shh]

Well, it seems like you've taken any of my results from weeks of testing... but I can't blame you for that, and don't want to either.

Hmm, you calculate some things in another way ( subs, Track1size,...) and don't take care for TAO/DAO-Burning...

> StreamSectors: 1668566928
> AudioSectors: 89720344
> VideoPAPO: 24457176
> ScanOffsetBytes: 207363
> SeqAligningBytes: 13179071
> VideoEndHeader: 8
> SubtitleSectors: 0
> EmptySectors: 238.00
> PictureSectors: 1.00
> PureMPEGStream: 1541002966.33
> Track1Size
>

> I do use some of the same Variable Names as you do

Yes, indeed. Some [few].
Mainly my neologism VideoPAPO (Video Pack And Packet Overhead) caught my eye, which couldn't be coincidence. More and more people just copy GPL-code into their programs without respecting it's restrictness, too.
Sorry for calumny.

> Jono182: yay for gpl!

??

Cheers
shh

[dvd2svcd]

No problem shh, I do indeed recognize your program as THE bitrate calculator. If you want I can change the variable names in my program.

I'm glad that this settles this little matter, I know that there is a some GPL violations floating around, and that is a pity.

[shh]

> If you want I can change the variable names in my program

No way! Just leave them as the are. :)

[markrb]

I am so glad that this was worked out in a quick and peaceful manner.
I have seen these type of arguments go way beyond what is civil in the past. Most of the time it turns out to be third parties putting their nose into something the author has no issue with.

Good going to both of you and thanks to both for the wonderful and useful programs.

Mark

[Jono182]

i live my life by the gpl license

[dvd2svcd]

@Jono182: And by that you mean........?

[dvd2svcd]

It seems I am being accused by shh again (even though we already settled the matter long time ago where you agreed that I in fact was not in violation of GPL). So what is the deal shh, are you reaccusing me of GPL violation?

[pacohaas]

how hard is bitrate calculation anyhow? simple right? I say you just rewrite that code from scratch and get rid of the FitCD stuff completely, it seems that may be the only way to put this completely to rest.

[dvd2svcd]

Well, as shh agreed with me, I did rewrite the entire code, all I used was a couple of his variable names and the generel ieda behind bitrate calculation (written to fit into dvd2svcd). For instance my bitrate calculation works on more than one cd (which shh's didn't at the time, don't know how it looks today, as I haven't touched that area in a long time).

I mailed shh my bitrate calcultion and as you can see above he agreed with me that I was not in GPL violation.

My bitrate calculation is far from shhs so why should I rewrite what has never been copied?

Then, I read on the german doom9 board that mb1 and later on shh actually reacuses be of doing GPL violation. Why?

[pacohaas]

yes, i agree, what exactly does he say you need to do, i think you have done everything necessary to be in compliance.

[chainsaw135]

I thought this was figured out long time ago, yet it seems to have popped up. It could be a misunderstanding, so hopefully it gets resolved without any hard feelings.

[pacohaas]

maybe he was talking in past tense on the german board? how good is your german?

[chainsaw135]

my german is not very good...

[ElectronicGuru]

I read the whole thread over in the german forum and here is what I understand:

shh still thinks that DVD2SVCD copied 20-30% of his code which he thinks is too much (and would mean a violation of the GPL). However he did not want to force DVD2SVCD to release his code, because he thinks that the program DVD2SVCD is great and some of the code had been rewritten.

Nevertheless everybody tries to close the thread because there is really no point in discussing these issues on the board.

This was not my opinion just my interpretation on what I read on the german board.

CU

[chainsaw135]

i must say bach, i always enjoy reading your posts:) If i dont learn something in them i can always get a math lesson:p

6*10^9=10077696000000000

[maago]

I see you also like to change order of operations to fit your likings! ;)