Is this illegal and should I report it?

[stopusinmyid (Tammy)]

Hi all,

was looking on Ebay earlier in the telescope section and found this program for sale
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3D-Astron...ht_20541wt_905

I had a nosey at it and realized it looks pretty much like Stellarium and I am thinking I should report it. What do you all think?

[TrevorW]

It is Stellarium for sure, I would report it to Ebay.

[Moon (James)]

Interesting. Click the 'report item' link and its seems you can't report an item unless you have already bought it.

Looks like all eBay care about it their commission.

James

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

If you read the full ad, what they are doing is perfectly legal, you are paying for them to put it all on a DVD for you.

Full Version Software : Comes with GNU/GPL and can be Installed on as Many Computers as You Wish/Want
Note to Ebay/VeRo : This software is sold as Open Source Software licensed under the GNU/GPL General Public License and does not violate any Ebay policy or copyright.
The GNU License can be viewed at this address
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.txt

[TrevorW]

Maybe point it out to the guys at Stellarium

[Moon (James)]

If you read the full ad, what they are doing is perfectly legal, you are paying for them to put it all on a DVD for you.

True but it's misleading : they don't mention that it's Stellarium.

It can be reported with this selection:
Listing Violations > Listing policy violations (improper keywords, outside links, etc.) > Misleading title > Inadequate or non-descriptive titles

[MikeyB (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Moon

Interesting. Click the 'report item' link and its seems you can't report an item unless you have already bought it. James

This is absolutely not the case at all. You need to be logged in as an eBay user (and you'll get an automatic email thanking you for your report), but there's no requirement whatsoever to have bought an item that you are reporting.

[Moon (James)]

This is absolutely not the case at all. You need to be logged in as an eBay user (and you'll get an automatic email thanking you for your report), but there's no requirement whatsoever to have bought an item that you are reporting.

If you select fraudulent, you need to have already purchased it. If you select Listing Violations, then no you don't have to purchase it.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Unreal. People will sell anything.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Golly - a lot of fuss over nothing lads! No-one is stealing anything here. Stellarium is free to download under the GNU General Public License.

The GNU General Public License is a free, copyleft license for software and other kinds of works.

The licenses for most software and other practical works are designed to take away your freedom to share and change the works. By contrast, the GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change all versions of a program--to make sure it remains free software for all its users. We, the Free Software Foundation, use the GNU General Public License for most of our software; it applies also to any other work released this way by its authors. You can apply it to your programs, too.

When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for them if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs, and that you know you can do these things.

Stellarium is released under a GPL license - it can be copied and modified as you wish - the source code is available on the Stellarium website - top right corner. You are absolutely free to modify and re-distribute it under whatever guise you like, as long as you release it under the same GPL public license. If it's modified or contains new additions, then the those that have modified it are obliged to provide the fixes or modifications back to the community in the form of a "port". It's how RedHat Linux can be ported to "CentOS" as a brand in its own right - as can Debian be modified and re-distributed as "Ubuntu".

The couple of bucks he's asking for it is for his effort in packaging it on a printed DVD or CD and providing a printed jewel case. Whether you think the asking price is worth it or not - it's up to you before you buy it. There is nothing nefarious or illegal going on here. As a developer of my own GPL-licensed product, I'd be more than happy - delighted even - to see it get around - it's why I create it in the first place.

Welcome to the world of open source.

[stopusinmyid (Tammy)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Unreal. People will sell anything.

Yeh ay, anything to make a quick buck. If only I had of thought of it first
So basically the only thing this seller is doing wrong is not advertising it as Stellarium software.

And yeh, I didn't read the whole ad (obviously). I'm glad I didn't just go ahead and report it before posting on here.

Thanks guys for setting me straight

OK I am now feeling like an idiot. Least now I have been corrected, they aren't doing anything wrong. Now I am really glad I didn't report it.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by stopusinmyid

So basically the only thing this seller is doing wrong is not advertising it as Stellarium software.

No - not even that. He can sell it as whatever he likes and is not at all obliged to mention its origin.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

and it's not like the seller is going to become a millionaire.

There are 8 copies available
at $4.98 each

deduct Ebay sellers fees
deduct cost of disc and case and professional quality level of printing on disc and case cover slip.

After all 8 copies sell, the seller might make a profit of about . . . hmmm . .
How much is a meat pie and a can of coke these days?
Probably more than the seller will make

If it isn't illegal (which Chris says it isn't) good luck to him

[stopusinmyid (Tammy)]

I see they aren't doing anything wrong. But me being unaware of GNU/GPL just assumed they were acting illegally.
So I guess I ain't reporting it, lol
Thanks guys

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Anyone here want to buy a copy of Stellarium from me?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

Anyone here want to buy a copy of Stellarium from me?

Only if you've pinched it from your dad.

[TrevorW]

Ok someone should get on there and undersell him- $4.50 a copy by 1000 copies available plus P&H

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi
There is nothing illegal about that AD. The GPL licence allows a small charge to be made for the preparation of the distibution media. $10.00 would be closer to the cost. It has been discussed many times by the project team.

This ad is selling a disc with Stellarium and many of the associated extras that can take ages to download. I don't know what version it is but I would hope that it is the latest version. I would not bother at that price but if anyone wants a DVD with the latest. I can send them a copy. My prodution cost would be :
$0.50 for the disc
$1.45 for the CD mailer
$1.90 for postage
No charge for the trip to the PO 7Km @ 50c/KM, cost of ink for the printer. Depreciation of my computer and printer, internet etc.

The ads that really annoyed us were those that collected a fee and gave you the URL to download from

Barry

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Only if you've pinched it from your dad.

He would have to steel it 'cause I would not let him sell any discs I make without a $5.00 commission.



Barry

PS I had a look at that ad The full ad is quite a production effort.
I'm sure Chris could estimate a commercial price to produce a similar one that would use all the profit form sales of 10000

Also if the seller likes to communicate with me I will ensure he gets the latest builds and spreads the word. I would not do it at that price.

BG