[Geomoose-users] Copyright Infringement Issue

[James Klassen]

On 2014/1/29 4:02 PM, Ed Boesenberg wrote:
>
> What do you mean by FUD?  I am trying to explain to non-technical bean
> counters why my company CAN use GeoMoose and other similar code
> projects in a for profit manor and they came back to me with the
> question, "How can I prove that GeoMoose is not infringing on other
> copyrighted material?". 
>

Sorry, I was short on time and should have been more clear.  My
complaint is the subject line of the email makes it look like you are
asserting there is copyright infringement going on in GeoMoose rather
than asking a question regarding general use of free and open source
software.  It primarily bothers me because sometimes people take
snippets like the subject, ignore the body of the email and then try to
use it against you later.  Think of how it would look as a news
headline.  I am ok with the broader question asked.
>
>  
>
> I know the license grants me permission but the people I am explaining
> to concerns are about the "contributors".  How do I prove what they
> are contributing in not infringing?
>
Which contributors are they concerned about?

The GeoMoose project is careful about accepting code and we have rules
in place about the licensing/copyright of contributed code.  This was
strengthened as part of the OSGeo incubation process that I linked to. 
Contributions have to meet the requirement of RFC-4 [1] and the
contributor guidelines [2] to be accepted by the project.

In terms of using GeoMoose for profit, the MIT style license of the
project allows that.  As a project, we would appreciate it if you were
to contribute to the project fixes/enhancements of
code/documentation/etc that you might make, but it is not required to
contribute back everything or anything.
>
>  
>
> I am a big advocate of open source software but I am trying to explain
> it to others and I having difficulties.  I don't mean to offend anyone. 
>

[1] http://www.geomoose.org/rfc/rfc-4.htm
[2] http://docs.geomoose.org/2.6/developer/contribute.html
>
>  
>
> *From:*geomoose-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
> [mailto:geomoose-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] *On Behalf Of
> *Basques, Bob (CI-StPaul)
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 29, 2014 4:13 PM
> *To:* James Klassen; geomoose-users at lists.osgeo.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Geomoose-users] Copyright Infringement Issue
>
>  
>
> E,
>
>  
>
> Adding to what Jim said, yes it IS copyrighted (which is a good
> thing), but the License explicitly gives you permission to use as long
> as you follow the licensing rules which are for the most part straight
> forward to follow.
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Bobb
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
> *From:*geomoose-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
> <mailto:geomoose-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org>
> [mailto:geomoose-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] *On Behalf Of *James
> Klassen
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 29, 2014 2:40 PM
> *To:* geomoose-users at lists.osgeo.org
> <mailto:geomoose-users at lists.osgeo.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Geomoose-users] Copyright Infringement Issue
>
>  
>
> First, I cannot give legal advice, so you are on your own there. 
> Second, I object to your email subject as being FUD. 
>
> GeoMoose IS copyrighted material.  The license that GeoMoose is
> distributed under is available in the LICENSE file in every download,
> near the top of the source files, and on the GeoMoose website [1].  
> GeoMoose and OpenLayers are both OSGeo Projects, so another place to
> look is at the requirements for a project to pass OSGeo Incubation [2].
>
> Most other open source projects are similar.
>
> [1] http://www.geomoose.org/info/license.html
> [2]
> http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/project_graduation_checklist.html
>
> Jim Klassen
>
> On 2014/1/29 12:49 PM, Ed Boesenberg wrote:
>
>     Hello All,
>
>      
>
>     I have been trying to convince the Board of Directors of the
>     company I work for to let me engage current customers and possibly
>     new customers to setup GeoMoose type web applications and other
>     similar type web applications based on OpenLayers.  The Board is
>     reluctant because of copyright infringement.  Their argument is
>     how can I prove that GeoMoose and OpenLayers is not infringing
>     upon other copyrighted material.  They considered getting a patent
>     attorney to review my code\GeoMoose code but they aren't able to
>     justify the cost.
>
>      
>
>     How can I prove my argument that GeoMoose and similar open source
>     code is not copyright material?
>
>      
>
>     Thanks,
>
>      
>
>     E
>
>
>
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>
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>
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>
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>
>  
>

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