MPAA accused of software theft

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Basheera Khan <bash.lists () gmail com>
Date: February 19, 2007 5:53:36 AM EST
To: dave () farber net
Subject: For IP: MPAA accused of software theft

MPAA Steals Code, Violates Linkware License
Written by Smaran on February 17, 2007

A blogger who wrote his own blogging engine called Forest Blog recently
noticed that none other than the MPAA was using his work, and had
completely violated his linkware license by removing all links back to
the Forest Blog site, and had not credited him in any way.

Forest BlogPatrick Robin, a 29 year old web developer from South
England, is the developer of an ASP-based blogging platform called
Forest Blog. He distributes it freely under a linkware license, asking
that anyone who uses it merely link back to his site where Forest Blog
is offered for download. If someone wants to remove the links back to
his site, they must purchase a license. A personal license costs 10
Pounds and a commercial one costs 25.

Amazingly, the MPAA seem to think they're above "formalities" like
licenses and such. The MPAA blog, located at
www.mpaa.org/blog_default.asp (currently down - pic), was using
Patrick's Forest Blog software, but had been completely stripped of his
name, and links back to his site. He only found about it accidentally
when he happened to visit the MPAA site.

Clearly, there seems to be a lack of concern by the MPAA of others'
copyrighted works. Therefore, is it unsurprising that their customers
seem to have the same attitude towards their movies?

According to Patrick, it isn't something new to find his blogging
software being used like this. What he finds really odd is that an
organisation whose goal is to "protect" copyrighted creative works has
no qualms in, essentially, stealing other people's work. The MPAA still
haven't replied to a letter he sent them about the illegal use of his
blogging software.

http://torrentfreak.com/mpaa-steals-code-violates-linkware-license/


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