▲ 156 ▼ Chinese semiconductor outfit has Linux MPP repository on Github disabled after a DMCA takedown request & FFmpeg team accuses it of using libavcodec code without attribution (www.tomshardware.com) submitted 10 months ago by cm0002@literature.cafe to c/linux@programming.dev 28 comments fedilink hide all child comments
[+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -55 points 10 months ago (17 children) Ffmpeg are kinda assholes and squelch innovation tbh. permalink fedilink source hideshow 17 child comments replies: [–] HappyFrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 44 points 10 months ago (5 children) How would preventing companies from making their changes private squelch innovation? If people stop enforcing open source licenses, then companies would never contribute to the very same project they use. Ffmpeg is making innovation easier by forcing rockchip to publish their code. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 5 child comments replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -13 points 10 months ago (4 children) If a company has to release their whole product as open source, they likely can't make back their investment on development. This particular case may be cut and dry, but I've had ffmpeg come after my company just for having an embedded Linux solution that uses off-the-shelf ffmpeg libraries. They claimed we had to release all of our custom libraries and app source and environment that were in the same product even though they didn't have a line of ffmpeg code in them. As a small company, we couldn't afford the litigation, so we just dropped the project. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] HappyFrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 10 months ago (3 children) Ah, so it's personal, got it. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -7 points 10 months ago (2 children) Well calling them assholes is kinda personal, no? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 10 months ago (1 child) You're complaining you couldn't make back your investment on a project that leveraged other people's code. Code that was released under a GPL license. What the fuck makes you think anyone gives a shit about your opinion of how unfair it is that you can't profit from their code? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago I contribute to open source plenty. My company hardly makes any profit. We put it all back into r&d because we like making stuff. Employing engineers then allows them to also contribute to open source. But we have to sell stuff to keep things going. And if we made improvement to the ffmpeg source, we'd definitely publish it. But we didn't. We just used it in an embedded solution which had a bunch of custom apps gluing it all together. We did what many others have done, but ffmpeg decided to try to shake us down (they literally asked for a payout to make it go away). Corporate litigation is stupidly expensive and not what we want to spend our time on. I don't really care. We had fun making the device and learned a bunch. We just also learned to avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent [–] Neptr@lemmy.blahaj.zone 44 points 10 months ago (1 child) Wydm? Rockchip copied their code, changed the license and didnt attribute FFmpeg. FFmpeg is a small team of enthusiasts who are responsible for plenty of important innovation and remain largely unpaid even with such substantial widespread use of their code in like SOOOO MANY big software projects. It isn't their fault that people aren't following the simple rules of the license to use their code. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -10 points 10 months ago In this case, sure, idk. I've had a project shut down because ffmpeg threatened law suits unless we open sourced our own custom libraries that work along side ffmpeg. And it's not just the source code, they want full build environments. Our lawyers wouldn't touch it, so we just shut it all down. Now I use gstreamer and avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent [–] nyan@lemmy.cafe 34 points 10 months ago* Dude, all Rockchip had to do to avoid this was a bit of license-related bookkeeping. They're a corporation, so they're used to dealing in bookkeeping and contracts. Someone at their end whose job it is to track this stuff either screwed up or let this through on purpose, assuming they wouldn't be caught (more likely the latter, because China). permalink fedilink source parent [–] SleeplessCityLights@programming.dev 16 points 10 months ago (6 children) I would at least Google something before you state an opinion. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -9 points 10 months ago (5 children) I have personal experience. I don't need to Google it, thanks. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 5 child comments replies: [–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 10 months ago (4 children) FAFO. and don't expect sympathy. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -2 points 10 months ago (3 children) I don't need sympathy. I just warn others to steer clear of ffmpeg. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago (2 children) Couldn't you rather provide the name of your company, so we know what software we should steer clear of? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago (1 child) Don't worry, I'm sure you couldn't afford our products. And I bet engineers at my company have contributed over 10x what you'll ever contribute to useful open source libraries! But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) Ah, the classic ad hominem, the mark of someone who has absolutely no problem backing up their bold claims with arguments, not just feelings! I wouldn't touch your products even if I got paid to do so, given your attitude in this thread alone. But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? That's rich coming from someone who is confidently incorrect about how basic software licensing works... permalink fedilink source parent [–] ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago I don't see why drivers or similar shouldn't be GPL or LGPL... permalink fedilink source parent
[–] HappyFrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 44 points 10 months ago (5 children) How would preventing companies from making their changes private squelch innovation? If people stop enforcing open source licenses, then companies would never contribute to the very same project they use. Ffmpeg is making innovation easier by forcing rockchip to publish their code. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 5 child comments replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -13 points 10 months ago (4 children) If a company has to release their whole product as open source, they likely can't make back their investment on development. This particular case may be cut and dry, but I've had ffmpeg come after my company just for having an embedded Linux solution that uses off-the-shelf ffmpeg libraries. They claimed we had to release all of our custom libraries and app source and environment that were in the same product even though they didn't have a line of ffmpeg code in them. As a small company, we couldn't afford the litigation, so we just dropped the project. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] HappyFrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 10 months ago (3 children) Ah, so it's personal, got it. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -7 points 10 months ago (2 children) Well calling them assholes is kinda personal, no? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 10 months ago (1 child) You're complaining you couldn't make back your investment on a project that leveraged other people's code. Code that was released under a GPL license. What the fuck makes you think anyone gives a shit about your opinion of how unfair it is that you can't profit from their code? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago I contribute to open source plenty. My company hardly makes any profit. We put it all back into r&d because we like making stuff. Employing engineers then allows them to also contribute to open source. But we have to sell stuff to keep things going. And if we made improvement to the ffmpeg source, we'd definitely publish it. But we didn't. We just used it in an embedded solution which had a bunch of custom apps gluing it all together. We did what many others have done, but ffmpeg decided to try to shake us down (they literally asked for a payout to make it go away). Corporate litigation is stupidly expensive and not what we want to spend our time on. I don't really care. We had fun making the device and learned a bunch. We just also learned to avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent
[+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -13 points 10 months ago (4 children) If a company has to release their whole product as open source, they likely can't make back their investment on development. This particular case may be cut and dry, but I've had ffmpeg come after my company just for having an embedded Linux solution that uses off-the-shelf ffmpeg libraries. They claimed we had to release all of our custom libraries and app source and environment that were in the same product even though they didn't have a line of ffmpeg code in them. As a small company, we couldn't afford the litigation, so we just dropped the project. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] HappyFrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 10 months ago (3 children) Ah, so it's personal, got it. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -7 points 10 months ago (2 children) Well calling them assholes is kinda personal, no? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 10 months ago (1 child) You're complaining you couldn't make back your investment on a project that leveraged other people's code. Code that was released under a GPL license. What the fuck makes you think anyone gives a shit about your opinion of how unfair it is that you can't profit from their code? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago I contribute to open source plenty. My company hardly makes any profit. We put it all back into r&d because we like making stuff. Employing engineers then allows them to also contribute to open source. But we have to sell stuff to keep things going. And if we made improvement to the ffmpeg source, we'd definitely publish it. But we didn't. We just used it in an embedded solution which had a bunch of custom apps gluing it all together. We did what many others have done, but ffmpeg decided to try to shake us down (they literally asked for a payout to make it go away). Corporate litigation is stupidly expensive and not what we want to spend our time on. I don't really care. We had fun making the device and learned a bunch. We just also learned to avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] HappyFrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 10 months ago (3 children) Ah, so it's personal, got it. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -7 points 10 months ago (2 children) Well calling them assholes is kinda personal, no? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 10 months ago (1 child) You're complaining you couldn't make back your investment on a project that leveraged other people's code. Code that was released under a GPL license. What the fuck makes you think anyone gives a shit about your opinion of how unfair it is that you can't profit from their code? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago I contribute to open source plenty. My company hardly makes any profit. We put it all back into r&d because we like making stuff. Employing engineers then allows them to also contribute to open source. But we have to sell stuff to keep things going. And if we made improvement to the ffmpeg source, we'd definitely publish it. But we didn't. We just used it in an embedded solution which had a bunch of custom apps gluing it all together. We did what many others have done, but ffmpeg decided to try to shake us down (they literally asked for a payout to make it go away). Corporate litigation is stupidly expensive and not what we want to spend our time on. I don't really care. We had fun making the device and learned a bunch. We just also learned to avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent
[+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -7 points 10 months ago (2 children) Well calling them assholes is kinda personal, no? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 10 months ago (1 child) You're complaining you couldn't make back your investment on a project that leveraged other people's code. Code that was released under a GPL license. What the fuck makes you think anyone gives a shit about your opinion of how unfair it is that you can't profit from their code? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago I contribute to open source plenty. My company hardly makes any profit. We put it all back into r&d because we like making stuff. Employing engineers then allows them to also contribute to open source. But we have to sell stuff to keep things going. And if we made improvement to the ffmpeg source, we'd definitely publish it. But we didn't. We just used it in an embedded solution which had a bunch of custom apps gluing it all together. We did what many others have done, but ffmpeg decided to try to shake us down (they literally asked for a payout to make it go away). Corporate litigation is stupidly expensive and not what we want to spend our time on. I don't really care. We had fun making the device and learned a bunch. We just also learned to avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 10 months ago (1 child) You're complaining you couldn't make back your investment on a project that leveraged other people's code. Code that was released under a GPL license. What the fuck makes you think anyone gives a shit about your opinion of how unfair it is that you can't profit from their code? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago I contribute to open source plenty. My company hardly makes any profit. We put it all back into r&d because we like making stuff. Employing engineers then allows them to also contribute to open source. But we have to sell stuff to keep things going. And if we made improvement to the ffmpeg source, we'd definitely publish it. But we didn't. We just used it in an embedded solution which had a bunch of custom apps gluing it all together. We did what many others have done, but ffmpeg decided to try to shake us down (they literally asked for a payout to make it go away). Corporate litigation is stupidly expensive and not what we want to spend our time on. I don't really care. We had fun making the device and learned a bunch. We just also learned to avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago I contribute to open source plenty. My company hardly makes any profit. We put it all back into r&d because we like making stuff. Employing engineers then allows them to also contribute to open source. But we have to sell stuff to keep things going. And if we made improvement to the ffmpeg source, we'd definitely publish it. But we didn't. We just used it in an embedded solution which had a bunch of custom apps gluing it all together. We did what many others have done, but ffmpeg decided to try to shake us down (they literally asked for a payout to make it go away). Corporate litigation is stupidly expensive and not what we want to spend our time on. I don't really care. We had fun making the device and learned a bunch. We just also learned to avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Neptr@lemmy.blahaj.zone 44 points 10 months ago (1 child) Wydm? Rockchip copied their code, changed the license and didnt attribute FFmpeg. FFmpeg is a small team of enthusiasts who are responsible for plenty of important innovation and remain largely unpaid even with such substantial widespread use of their code in like SOOOO MANY big software projects. It isn't their fault that people aren't following the simple rules of the license to use their code. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -10 points 10 months ago In this case, sure, idk. I've had a project shut down because ffmpeg threatened law suits unless we open sourced our own custom libraries that work along side ffmpeg. And it's not just the source code, they want full build environments. Our lawyers wouldn't touch it, so we just shut it all down. Now I use gstreamer and avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent
[+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -10 points 10 months ago In this case, sure, idk. I've had a project shut down because ffmpeg threatened law suits unless we open sourced our own custom libraries that work along side ffmpeg. And it's not just the source code, they want full build environments. Our lawyers wouldn't touch it, so we just shut it all down. Now I use gstreamer and avoid ffmpeg like the plague. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] nyan@lemmy.cafe 34 points 10 months ago* Dude, all Rockchip had to do to avoid this was a bit of license-related bookkeeping. They're a corporation, so they're used to dealing in bookkeeping and contracts. Someone at their end whose job it is to track this stuff either screwed up or let this through on purpose, assuming they wouldn't be caught (more likely the latter, because China). permalink fedilink source parent
[–] SleeplessCityLights@programming.dev 16 points 10 months ago (6 children) I would at least Google something before you state an opinion. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -9 points 10 months ago (5 children) I have personal experience. I don't need to Google it, thanks. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 5 child comments replies: [–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 10 months ago (4 children) FAFO. and don't expect sympathy. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -2 points 10 months ago (3 children) I don't need sympathy. I just warn others to steer clear of ffmpeg. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago (2 children) Couldn't you rather provide the name of your company, so we know what software we should steer clear of? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago (1 child) Don't worry, I'm sure you couldn't afford our products. And I bet engineers at my company have contributed over 10x what you'll ever contribute to useful open source libraries! But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) Ah, the classic ad hominem, the mark of someone who has absolutely no problem backing up their bold claims with arguments, not just feelings! I wouldn't touch your products even if I got paid to do so, given your attitude in this thread alone. But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? That's rich coming from someone who is confidently incorrect about how basic software licensing works... permalink fedilink source parent
[+] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -9 points 10 months ago (5 children) I have personal experience. I don't need to Google it, thanks. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 5 child comments replies: [–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 10 months ago (4 children) FAFO. and don't expect sympathy. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -2 points 10 months ago (3 children) I don't need sympathy. I just warn others to steer clear of ffmpeg. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago (2 children) Couldn't you rather provide the name of your company, so we know what software we should steer clear of? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago (1 child) Don't worry, I'm sure you couldn't afford our products. And I bet engineers at my company have contributed over 10x what you'll ever contribute to useful open source libraries! But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) Ah, the classic ad hominem, the mark of someone who has absolutely no problem backing up their bold claims with arguments, not just feelings! I wouldn't touch your products even if I got paid to do so, given your attitude in this thread alone. But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? That's rich coming from someone who is confidently incorrect about how basic software licensing works... permalink fedilink source parent
[–] dtaylor84@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 10 months ago (4 children) FAFO. and don't expect sympathy. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -2 points 10 months ago (3 children) I don't need sympathy. I just warn others to steer clear of ffmpeg. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago (2 children) Couldn't you rather provide the name of your company, so we know what software we should steer clear of? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago (1 child) Don't worry, I'm sure you couldn't afford our products. And I bet engineers at my company have contributed over 10x what you'll ever contribute to useful open source libraries! But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) Ah, the classic ad hominem, the mark of someone who has absolutely no problem backing up their bold claims with arguments, not just feelings! I wouldn't touch your products even if I got paid to do so, given your attitude in this thread alone. But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? That's rich coming from someone who is confidently incorrect about how basic software licensing works... permalink fedilink source parent
[–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -2 points 10 months ago (3 children) I don't need sympathy. I just warn others to steer clear of ffmpeg. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago (2 children) Couldn't you rather provide the name of your company, so we know what software we should steer clear of? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago (1 child) Don't worry, I'm sure you couldn't afford our products. And I bet engineers at my company have contributed over 10x what you'll ever contribute to useful open source libraries! But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) Ah, the classic ad hominem, the mark of someone who has absolutely no problem backing up their bold claims with arguments, not just feelings! I wouldn't touch your products even if I got paid to do so, given your attitude in this thread alone. But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? That's rich coming from someone who is confidently incorrect about how basic software licensing works... permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago (2 children) Couldn't you rather provide the name of your company, so we know what software we should steer clear of? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago (1 child) Don't worry, I'm sure you couldn't afford our products. And I bet engineers at my company have contributed over 10x what you'll ever contribute to useful open source libraries! But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) Ah, the classic ad hominem, the mark of someone who has absolutely no problem backing up their bold claims with arguments, not just feelings! I wouldn't touch your products even if I got paid to do so, given your attitude in this thread alone. But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? That's rich coming from someone who is confidently incorrect about how basic software licensing works... permalink fedilink source parent
[–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago (1 child) Don't worry, I'm sure you couldn't afford our products. And I bet engineers at my company have contributed over 10x what you'll ever contribute to useful open source libraries! But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) Ah, the classic ad hominem, the mark of someone who has absolutely no problem backing up their bold claims with arguments, not just feelings! I wouldn't touch your products even if I got paid to do so, given your attitude in this thread alone. But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? That's rich coming from someone who is confidently incorrect about how basic software licensing works... permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Librerian@lemmy.zip 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) Ah, the classic ad hominem, the mark of someone who has absolutely no problem backing up their bold claims with arguments, not just feelings! I wouldn't touch your products even if I got paid to do so, given your attitude in this thread alone. But we can't all live in mom and dad's basement pretending we know what we're talking about, can we? That's rich coming from someone who is confidently incorrect about how basic software licensing works... permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago I don't see why drivers or similar shouldn't be GPL or LGPL... permalink fedilink source parent