I've just had my attention drawn to this: http://eportfolios.digitalapplications.co.uk/
What they are selling looks very dodgy to me, there is no mention of licencsing and yet it seems very much like a rebadged course, minor modification to courses admin which they are charging you 200 quid for.
Anyone more informed think its worth chasing or setting http://gpl-violations.org/ on the case?
Hi Dan
I believe that legally anyone can even sell Moodle if they can find someone dumb enought to buy it as long as the source code and original copyright statements etc. are intact . . . there's a difference between what's legal and what's ethical
Say I wrote an amazing module or block for Moodle (if only I had the talent!) then technically I could sell it . . . but the good thing is that chances are anyone who bought it could then give it away to the community for free. On the other hand, selling copyrighted content is quite legal i.e. if I create a degree course on nuclear physics in Moodle I could sell a backup of it to others with copyright restrictions as it is the content I'd be selling not the delivery technlogy.
I've seen a few other examples where people have taken an open source project, did minor theme changes and started selling it - a business model that never works (and I want to point out STRONGLY I am not suggesting, implying or hinting in any way that the people from your link are doing anything like this; haven't even looked at it yet). The business model around open source projects that work long-term (other than using the software in question to provide a paid service of course) is one of support and development such as Moodle Partners.
Bottom line, as far as I'm aware, as long as a person/company complies with the GPL insofar as supplying the source code and maintaining all original copyright statements there is no violation.
Can someone confirm or clarify my take on GPL?
Regards
Harry
I believe that legally anyone can even sell Moodle if they can find someone dumb enought to buy it as long as the source code and original copyright statements etc. are intact . . . there's a difference between what's legal and what's ethical
Say I wrote an amazing module or block for Moodle (if only I had the talent!) then technically I could sell it . . . but the good thing is that chances are anyone who bought it could then give it away to the community for free. On the other hand, selling copyrighted content is quite legal i.e. if I create a degree course on nuclear physics in Moodle I could sell a backup of it to others with copyright restrictions as it is the content I'd be selling not the delivery technlogy.
I've seen a few other examples where people have taken an open source project, did minor theme changes and started selling it - a business model that never works (and I want to point out STRONGLY I am not suggesting, implying or hinting in any way that the people from your link are doing anything like this; haven't even looked at it yet). The business model around open source projects that work long-term (other than using the software in question to provide a paid service of course) is one of support and development such as Moodle Partners.
Bottom line, as far as I'm aware, as long as a person/company complies with the GPL insofar as supplying the source code and maintaining all original copyright statements there is no violation.
Can someone confirm or clarify my take on GPL?
Regards
Harry
"So where is the violation? I see a big "Moodle" button at the bottom, but even if it wasn't there, I stil don't see the violation. If they can sell it...good for them."
Curiosity got the better of me so just had a look, to me it looks like a company/individual that is trying to make a buck or two and promoting Moodle at the same time - win win situation
So where is the violation? I see a big "Moodle" button at the bottom, but even if it wasn't there, I stil don't see the violation. If they can sell it...good for them.
It looks like they are just modifying the course in some way. Which is fine, and I have absolutely no problem with them selling it. However, under the GPL they must distribute the source code and acknowledge the GPL licencsed code they are using.
"For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether
gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that
you have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the
source code. And you must show them these terms so they know their
rights."
I am far from being an expert on GPL, but what I am seeing here is not Moodle code being sold, but rather the sale of an extension they have built. This is fine as far as I know.
Ethically I am against it. But I see no reason that a company who has invested dollars into extending Moodle cannot then sell their additions back to the public.
I do notice however that they have never posted on moodle.org to sell their wares..so maybe they see the same ethincal issues I do. Mayb I am just too idealistic.
Ethically I am against it. But I see no reason that a company who has invested dollars into extending Moodle cannot then sell their additions back to the public.
I do notice however that they have never posted on moodle.org to sell their wares..so maybe they see the same ethincal issues I do. Mayb I am just too idealistic.
This code would almost certainly be based on existing GPL code under my GPL license for Moodle, and as such must be GPL itself. It's OK to try and charge for downloading it, but it's also OK for anyone who gets it to give it away for free under the GPL license.
I've emailed them asking for clarification.
I've emailed them asking for clarification.
I've just had a look at this site, unless I'm missing something (or the site's been updated) I can't see any code being sold. It's downloadable and there are instructions about how to set up / use it.
From a quick flick through the files, the code is mainly attributed as follows
Copyright (C) 2006 ICT Education Online Ltd
http://www.icteducationonline.co.uk
under GPL.
Where the code is clearly Moodle code (I spotted some references to Gustav Delius) there are files without a MD copyright notice.
If it is above board it may be a useful Moodle add on to use in conjunction with the free DiDA / Moodle resources being distributed by North West learning Grid to anyone who asks for them.
From a quick flick through the files, the code is mainly attributed as follows
Copyright (C) 2006 ICT Education Online Ltd
http://www.icteducationonline.co.uk
under GPL.
Where the code is clearly Moodle code (I spotted some references to Gustav Delius) there are files without a MD copyright notice.
If it is above board it may be a useful Moodle add on to use in conjunction with the free DiDA / Moodle resources being distributed by North West learning Grid to anyone who asks for them.