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Legality of a private build.

Posted: 19 Feb 2019, 12:01
by MorganBlack
I've build Filebot by myself and removed all the licensing stuff from it.

Is it legal for me to use it as long as I don't distribute my build?

I just don't get the whole "don't be a d*** license", source being open and having to pay for the software.

Re: Legality of a private build.

Posted: 19 Feb 2019, 17:34
by rednoah
1.
I would be prefer that you purchase a license like everyone else, and use the official builds (especially if you didn't do anything other than remove the license check). The DBAD license strongly suggests as much. Obviously, I'm not gonna sue you for $6 from the other side of the planet.


2.
FileBot being open source is about idealism, and not capitalism. Maybe eventually there'll be this one guy who ruins it for everyone, but for now there is no particular reason not to be open source, as all software should be (although there's also no particular reason to be open source either, other than on principle).

Re: Legality of a private build.

Posted: 28 Feb 2019, 02:57
by howdymilsap
MorganBlack wrote: 19 Feb 2019, 12:01 I've build Filebot by myself and removed all the licensing stuff from it.

Is it legal for me to use it as long as I don't distribute my build?

I just don't get the whole "don't be a d*** license", source being open and having to pay for the software.
What is your time worth? Why would you spend the time to do this to get around a $6 license?

Re: Legality of a private build.

Posted: 28 Feb 2019, 04:14
by rednoah
howdymilsap wrote: 28 Feb 2019, 02:57 What is your time worth? Why would you spend the time to do this to get around a $6 license?
An impeccable argument indeed.

FileBot is easy to build, and no matter how skilled you are, it's probably gonna take you at least half an hour to get all the dependencies and build tools working. That's why investing your own time to make your own build is kinda ok, if you happen to have far more time than money, while sharing it with others who can't be bothered to do the same is very much frowned upon.

Re: Legality of a private build.

Posted: 09 Apr 2019, 16:28
by rednoah
Borba wrote: 09 Apr 2019, 16:26 There is always a person who spends a lot of time to bypass a license, no matter what it costs him. It is like a sporting interest!
Cracking open-source software doesn't exactly give you blackhat hacker bragging rights. :lol:

Re: Legality of a private build.

Posted: 09 Apr 2019, 16:35
by rednoah
Cracking open-source software isn't exactly a personal achievement either. :lol:

Re: Legality of a private build.

Posted: 01 May 2019, 16:03
by MorganBlack
Loads of butt hurt comments speculating on my motives but no straight answer... go figure.

Re: Legality of a private build.

Posted: 01 May 2019, 16:23
by rednoah
Straight Answer:

* You can have your own private build, if and only if you own a valid license. Disabling the license check is frowned upon.

* You explicitly cannot disable the license check and then distribute your private build.

Re: Legality of a private build.

Posted: 01 May 2019, 19:21
by howdymilsap
MorganBlack wrote: 01 May 2019, 16:03 Loads of butt hurt comments speculating on my motives but no straight answer... go figure.
Ok, now explain your motivation.