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

Thu Jul 13 12:44:45 MDT 2006

Hi Chris,

I suggest that you make the license more explicit.  From a glance  
over the source and the files in the "Licenses" directory, I only see  
the following:

1. " FX is a free open-source PHP class for accessing FileMaker  #
#          data"

2. The PHP License

3. The Artistic License

None of these imply that derived products must be free.  There are  
many different types of open source licenses.  This email would imply  
that you intend it to have a GPL style license (i.e. derivative  
products must be free).  However the PHP license and artistic license  
included in the distribution say nothing about this.

Open source packages like FX.php are quite often distributed under an  
LGPL style license, though, to make it more useful (so that people  
who use it in one of their apps don't get their hands tied by the  
license later on).  I guess I had wrongly assumed this style of license.

If I have missed some information about the license, please let me  
know.  I just think that Stephen's mistaken belief that he could sell  
derivative works is an easy one to make, given that the license  
doesn't seem to be front and center.

Best regards, and thank you for your great work on FX.php, and your  
dedication to keeping it free.

-Steve Hannah

On 13-Jul-06, at 11:28 AM, Chris Hansen wrote:

> 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
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> FX.php_List mailing list
>> FX.php_List at mail.iviking.org
>> http://www.iviking.org/mailman/listinfo/fx.php_list
>>
>
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>

----------------------------------------
Steve Hannah
Web Services Developer

Faculty of Applied Sciences
Simon Fraser University
shannah at sfu.ca
604-268-7228
Homepage: http://www.sjhannah.com