Topic: SME Server ( Clone ? )

[u27g8mdm]

I have been watching this thread since it's start.  We can all do something about this and I will tell you how.

As soon as his website is back up, go there and look for as many GPL and/or copyright violations etc. that you can find.

JMHO.

Perhaps the reason his website is down is to make time for him to remove all GPL/Open Source references in the Kirux ES ? Just a guess. Let's wait and see.

It was online yesterday when I was checking out the Features of his Kirux ES and Firewall.

[bhoar]

Just a newbie comment, but I'll go ahead anyway:

I think Moses made some questionable decisions regarding licensing and legalities, but recognize he's going to defend his time and money investment in his business both from competitors and from other threats.

Direct application of a stick will probably only involve loss of time and/or money all around.  Laying out the option of carrots for discussion again shouldn't hurt (however i haven't followed the off-board discussion(s), so maybe it will be somewhat painful?)

Suggestions of some things for both sides:

1) Restoration of original SME/Mitel on-screen copyrights, alongside Kirux copyrights for new/significantly updated code.  This would reduce the copyright display issue in the long term to "no harm/no foul", I would think.

2) Public availability of "minimal" Kirux release that includes all GPL-controlled modules, most "open source license" controlled modules (that require it), and a minimal set of "Kirux copyright" controlled modules (e.g. installer).  The source to everything but the "Kirux copyright" controlled modules would be available as well.  Alternately, this could be a source-only release, except for the "Kirux copyright" binaries, which would be less work for them.

3) Allowing them some time to clean up any issues they have with code they don't want to release that might be mixed in with code that would perhaps force them to release it.  A temporary repreive, if you will.

4) Re-attempting to bring Moses and his folks in on some parts of the SME Server development process, at least in areas that aren't significantly forked.  If possible.

Again, Moses & company are presumably concerned about giving away the farm in terms of sales and consulting, and the contribs people's concerns of unfair re-use of their works is important as well.

I think the Kirux folks have the most work to do to build the bridge, but if there's some more effort shown, that might (and should) reduce tempers on the contribs.org side a bit.

-brendan

[kiruxadmin]

....

[u27g8mdm]

brendan:

Excellent Post. You are right. Kirux concern, among others,  is to provide a system  where resellers, not the community, will benefit from something that they do not put any time, effort or money. These resellers just download the software and provide "support". Or from other resellers that change some logos and start selling it as their own.

Ahem, your comments errrr boogles the mind.......it's the same problem the developers of SME Server is facing.
 

Open to suggestions ?

You complain thru this forum then.

brendan all your points are very valid. We are currently working to implement some methods that will help the community and protect our efforts, including the formation of a non-profit organization (100% supported by kirux) were the kirux software among others will be available for the community to download.  

Excellent. We thank you.

Also, the Mitel copyright screen, everybody is taking about it. Where it is?  You can check the link of the contribs Screenshots SME Server Release 6.5:
http://no.longer.valid/xoopsgallery/view_photo.php?xoops_imageid=496&set_albumName=album01&id=users_res800

So now you are admitting that you had used SME Server as your base for your KES ?
Not trying to belittle your work, but give some credit to others, thanks.

[Black]

Come on guys just take one look at it and it's a complete rip of SME. why on earth he wouldn't give kudos to SME is beyond me. He even has Mitlel and SME listed as competitors.. lmfao

[fargo]

I don't know how this guy thinks?! Please see the logo he is using in this page for example:
http://www.kirux.net/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3

What do you think? Yes, it is mambo, mamboserver.com !!

Can somebody just stop this guy?!

[MSmith]

"Somebody"?  I don't think that some hypothetical "GPLMan" is going to swoop down and make a smoking crater in Dallas where the Kirux offices used to be.

However, now the folks behind Kirux know that the SME community is aware of the situation.  Are there GPL violations or not?  I'm not qualified to decide.  But if there are, then the Kirux enterprise is rotten at the core and will eventually founder, as you cannot build a strong and healthy software company that does not have clear rights to its intellectual property and whose business plan rests on violation of established software practices and licenses.

So ... if Kirux is in violation of the GPL it will most likely implode at some point as the corner-cutting mounts up.  If Kirux is not, or in the future is not because the company changes its path, then the SME community will be enriched by the contribution of Kirux' programming.  Either way, the situation will work out without "somebody" intervening.

Incidentally, in the age of Google it doesn't take much for anyone who is considering purchasing a Kirux product to discover this GPL controversy ...

[u27g8mdm]

Errr....so Moses may I know when this community edition of the KES will be available and what features will be cripped ?

[u27g8mdm]

ok, update on the KES "saga".

http://www.kirux.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=102

"We are in the process to release the Community Edition of the Kuadra Enterprise Server. The Kuadra ES Community Edition will be a free download for personal use, but without the support provided by Kirux Technology Solutions Inc or its worldwide network of Resellers.  The support, comments or suggestions for the Kuadra ES Community Edition will be provided by its users via forum.

The Kuadra ES Community Edition offers the same functionality of the Kuadra ES supported version, but is restricted to one domain and 25 users. Also, you can freely share this version, but you can not sell it.

We are securing our mirrors sites and we are targeting the release of the Kuadra ES for early August."

how about the source code, moses ? will it be available as well ?

[azche24]

After reading this stuff, i checked www.kirux.net again. And i was smashed by the number of licence violations, that are happening there.

That guy even offers WHFC for download and names it "KudraES Fax Client Client for Windows". WHFC by Uli Eckhardt ist under GPL. The "Kirux-Man"

a) does not even mention that. He trys to express, that "his" client is freeware, which it is not.
b) does not provide the GPL, as he is supposed to, when distributing that prog
c) does not provide sourcecode.

The GPL (as e.g. Uli Eckhard provides it) is quite clear about that:

1. You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's
source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you
conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate
copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the
notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty;
and give any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License
along with the Program.

and:

 4. You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program
except as expressly provided under this License.  Any attempt
otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is
void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License.
However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under
this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such
parties remain in full compliance.

Someone should sue this little company and its owner at once. Uli Eckhard for shure can not afford an manage that from germany. But perhaps the FreeSoftFoundation could and i would contribute 100 EUR for every reasonable effort to do that.

Come on, guys and gals. Anyone knows a foundation, company or starving lawyer willing to do that. I mean, Dallas/Texas is not Malaysia or Shanghai, where copyrights can not be sued!

Or someone should do a little reverse engineering on his stuff and reuse it into SME, if that is somehow allowed by GPL.

Or just sue him to donate all the source code of his evil work back to FSF or Contribs.org.

What that guy does (not once, but dozen times) is pure  copyright violation. Just ugly in my opinion.

Sorry for getting impolite here. But i do not like to stay polite with persons, that explicitely violate law and even seem to be proud of it.

[dave_d]

Just an observation .....

I notice that nearly all his products start with a capital 'K'.  Now, I wonder what KDE would think of that? ......

[u27g8mdm]

What do you guys think of this SME Server "lookalike" ?

http://www.linuxon.com/panel.htm

Dont seem to be able to find any source code or a "comunity" edition for download?

Ironically, I got this from Kirux's Competitor link.

[pfloor]

Hey guys, check this out..
Kirux has registered SME server as his own project on freshmeat.net. That is not the worst part, the worst part is the license he registered it under:  [License]   Other/Proprietary License

Haw can he take GPL product and register it under proprietary license?  Check it out..

http://freshmeat.net/projects/kuadrasmeserver/

That link does not work anymore as he has changed his project name away from a title that includes "sme" to

http://freshmeat.net/projects/kuadraes/

Same project and description just a different project name and still regestered under a proprietary license.

[Boris]

What do you guys think of this SME Server "lookalike" ?

http://www.linuxon.com/panel.htm

Dont seem to be able to find any source code or a "comunity" edition for download?

Ironically, I got this from Kirux's Competitor link.

Quote from their site:
With the help of the open source community, Linuxon has designed a simple yet powerful and secure web and mail server,

From the demo server-manager the only change is logo on the header

[azche24]

From the demo server-manager the only change is logo on the header

Ugly, ugly, ugly - but as long as nobody tries the "jackson-trick" with these folks, which is "blame them, sue them, ruin them" many linux-newbies will even buy that kind of pirate-crap.