[FX.php List] [XPOST]Any interest in using FX.php with FileMaker 4.1?

[Chris Hansen]

Stephen,

By the terms of the license of FX.php you are NOT allowed to sell any  
product which uses FX.php code, unless you make some arrangement with  
those who have created the base class; and since I maintain FX.php,  
that means me.  You have made no effort to do this.  I appreciate  
that you need to run a business, but you cannot legally sell a work  
derived from FX.php.  In the past, you have sold related products  
which didn't actually incorporate FX.php code and that's fine.  But  
charging for a modified version is another matter.  If you want to  
contribute to FX.php, that would be great, but it seems like you're  
generally missing the point of open source.  Of course, you could  
charge a fee to some people, as long as the source code were freely  
and readily available for download from your site.  That way, those  
who wanted to contribute could, but anyone could use it (or improve it.)

I have to say that I feel that your participation with FX.php is  
somewhat disingenuous:

* You allow people to download FX.php from your site, but only if  
they provide their personal information.

* You don't inform people on the download page that yours is not the  
official site, or that FX.php can be downloaded elsewhere without  
providing this information.

Perhaps it seems to you that no harm has been done, but I disagree:  
you once forwarded to me a bug fix that had been found by someone,  
and reported to you.  Because this was sent to me without the  
person's name, that person didn't get the credit that they deserved  
for that fix.  This also implies that the person who emailed you  
assumed that FMWebschool was responsible for FX.php and its  
maintenance.  You say you spent 60 hours on this project, I've spent  
close to 1000; and many others have spent at least what you have.   
And yet you are the first to require payment for your contribution.   
Do you really feel that your contribution is more valuable than those  
of others, or more worthwhile than FX.php itself?

You are welcome in the FX.php community.  If you want to sell support  
for FX.php, or training, that's great.  But please give credit where  
credit is due, and don't violate the license.  I am very pleased with  
the open and friendly way in which people help one another in this  
community.  And I apologize for reacting so strongly, however the  
American legal system is such that a trespass once allowed is hard to  
subsequently prohibit.  FX.php is free and will remain so.  That is  
my promise to the community.

Sincerely,

--Chris Hansen
   FileMaker 7 Certified Developer
   Creator of FX.php
   "The best way from FileMaker to the Web."
   www.iViking.org


On Jul 13, 2006, at 10:17 AM, Stephen Knight wrote:

> I have just finished writing an FX.php class the allows you to use  
> FX.php
> with FileMaker 4.1.  Many of you will remember that 4.1 did not  
> require
> FileMaker Unlimited.
>
> If you feel this would be a valuable tool and if there is enough  
> interest I
> will place it on our website and release it for a very small fee.
>
> In Kindness
> Stephen K Knight
> http://www.fmwebschool.com
> 800.353.7950 / 386.453.5843
> FMWebschool, we bring the web to life
> FX.PHP PHP XML MySQL CDML ASP
>
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