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• dl7und
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Aug 12, 2003
  • Last visit: Mar 08, 2010
  • Posts: 111

  Posted: Aug 23, 2005 - 08:24 PM

  This forum is the closest I found to my question, but sorry if I'm wrong here.
  
  There is a company offering a package called "Xportal" in Chinese:
  
  http://www.xportal.cc/modules/XP_document/download.php?d=MTc=
  
  The Postnuke origin can't be denied, although they modified lots of module and even table names. Due to this I'm not sure how much of what they are selling now (mostly themes and a few modules, the package itself is free) was written by themselves.
  
  However, I couldn't find any hint on their website that anything in their package wasn't done by them. Also, almost all credit and license files are empty. (Their "xpForum" is actually phpBB1.4.) Our school thought about installing this package, but I'm not sure about the legal side of this.
  
  Could perhaps someone say a word about this?

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Aug 25, 2005
  • Posts: 5

  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 01:14 PM

  Xportal for enterprise & Xportal for school are free download any time. And source also free for school.
  
  But enterprise version have some file encode by eAccelerator for security reason.
  
  Since version 5.08 Xportal have online update function.
  
  You mention that some Xportal's module are modify form postnuke.
  whate module?

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• dl7und
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Aug 12, 2003
  • Last visit: Mar 08, 2010
  • Posts: 111

  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 01:50 PM

  Yes, the package itself is free. But what I have doubt about is that they might have used (GPL) code without including license and credits, which wouldn't be very "nice".
  
  It's hard to tell what modules they modified, because almost all names are different. I first thought of Postnuke due to the directory structure. I have only once a long time ago installed PHPNuke, so I'm not sure if their installation process is very similar to Postnuke's, but Xportal's installation process looked very familiar.
  
  I didn't specifically check for code (maybe ask SCO for help? :mrgreen: ), but only at two places did I find license and credit text: one is phpBB1.4, which they call xpForum 1.1, the other is probably the FAQ module, here called xpHomepage. All other module folders still include license and credit files, but those files are empty.

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• markwest
  
  

  • Rank: Team Member
  • Registered: Mar 18, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 6606

  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 07:18 PM

  Many of xPortal core API's (found in /system/includes/core.php) look very similar e.g. xpVarCleanFromInput looks a lot like pnVarCleanFromInput, xpVarCensor => pnVarCensor, xpSession* => pnSession*
  
  There is code is /system/classes/hook.php that's taken direct from pn_bbcode, pn_bbsmile, bcphphighlight postnuke hook modules. As pointed out already xpForum is cleary pnForum.
  
  To me it's very clear that this code is based on postnuke albeit heavilty modified; and as such forms, under the GPL, a derivate work of Postnuke and some associated modules. Therefore all the conditions of the GPL including proper credit and licensing, should be followed.
  
  -Mark
  
  --
  Visit My homepage and Zikula themes.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Aug 25, 2005
  • Posts: 5

  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 08:01 PM

  sorry for my poor english. At download session we already claim that except forum modules & WYSIWYG function are modify from GPL. Xportal.cc don't have that licence(chinese).
  
  Xportal system are rewrite from postnuke.
  enterprise can build both website ie. extranet(like xportal.cc) and intranet(contain 45 special modules for enterprise use--must login). Have two user system, one for extranet membership. one for intranet menbership.
  
  Anyone can download freely with no charge.
  
  No english version yet. If you pay me. I will build english version for you.
  
  PS: Xportal system need Mysql 4.1 above to run.

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• markwest
  
  

  • Rank: Team Member
  • Registered: Mar 18, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
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  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 08:54 PM

  Mike,
  
  Can we assume from this that your affiliated with xportal?
  
  

  mikehwa

  sorry for my poor english. At download session we already claim that except forum modules & WYSIWYG function are modify from GPL. Xportal.cc don't have that licence(chinese).
  

  
  The problem is that GPL stipulates that any derivative code must itself be GPL'd. This is the viral nature of the GPL. So if you create a modified version of a GPL'd product as you have done with xportal and it's modules IT MUST BE GPL'd.
  
  

  mikehwa

  
  Xportal system are rewrite from postnuke.
  enterprise can build both website ie. extranet(like xportal.cc) and intranet(contain 45 special modules for enterprise use--must login). Have two user system, one for extranet membership. one for intranet menbership.
  

  
  As outlined above any derivate works must be GPL'd but your also required to keep all in-code credits and copyright notices.
  
  

  mikehwa

  
  Anyone can download freely with no charge.
  

  
  The GPL is not about free as in no money but about freedom of access to code and the right to modify that code. The GPL is viral in nature so as to allow code to be modified while ensuring that code remains free.
  
  The GPL also ensures copyright protection for the authors of the code (i.e. the postnuke developers).
  
  So in short if xPortal and it's modules are a derivate work of postnuke and some of it's modules which you've stated they are then xportal and it's modules MUST BE GPL licenced and MUST retain all in-code credits and copyright notices. Currently it would appear xportal and it's modules are in breach of the GPL licence attached to postnuke and many of it's modules.
  
  Please review the GPL licence.
  
  If you need to contact me offline then please e-mail markwest at postnuke dot com.
  
  -Mark
  
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  Visit My homepage and Zikula themes.

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• MACscr
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Dec 31, 1969
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 1437

  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 08:55 PM

  Mark, i looked at the code myself and isnt it illegal for them to take out all the credits? i also dont see any documentation with the distro that mentions the GPL license. Seems like a completely rip off job to me.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
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  • Last visit: Apr 14, 2007
  • Posts: 35

  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 09:14 PM

  At least we should consider to inform the FSF if they breached the GPL and refuse to correct this. They have pretty good lawyers there

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
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  • Last visit: Aug 25, 2005
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  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 10:16 PM

  I am author of xportal. And I really don't know what GPL exactly is.
  
  We intend to build xportal system to replace IBM's Notes.
  Now it works. Xportal system can totally replace Notes at my company.
  We want to share it with public. Then postnuke want to sue me. What's wrong with this behave.
  
  Seem like postnuke dev team very care about this.
  I will consider to close xportal system or get rid of code that modify from postnuke soon. Totally cut relation with postnuke.

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• markwest
  
  

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  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 10:26 PM

  mikehwa

  I am author of xportal. And I really don't know what GPL exactly is.
  

  
  It's your repsonsiblity to ensure that you do understand the licence attached to code that you use.
  
  

  mikehwa

  
  We intend to build xportal system to replace IBM's Notes.
  Now it works. Xportal system can totally replace Notes at my company.
  We want to share it with public. Then postnuke want to sue me. What's wrong with this behave.
  

  
  Nothing is wrong with using postnuke as the basis to build your product - this is the strenghts of open source software. What is wrong is removing all credits from the existing code making it seem like you are the sole author. What is also wrong is that your new product must be GPL licenced - this is a requirement of work that is derivate of a GPL'd work.
  
  

  mikehwa

  
  Seem like postnuke dev team very care about this.
  I will consider to close xportal system or get rid of code that modify from postnuke soon. Totally cut relation with postnuke.

  
  Yes we care about protecting the work of postnuke developers past and present - would you expect anything different?
  
  You can continue to use postnuke as the basis of your work only if you comply with the GPL licence attached to the postnuke code. This means restoring ALL in code credits, licences etc. and that your product (xportal) is also licenced under the GPL.
  
  -Mark
  
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• markwest
  
  

  • Rank: Team Member
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  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 10:37 PM

  Just to add...
  
  Can you now remove the current download of xportal since I think we can agree that it's in breach of the GPL. This ensures that no further users can download code to which thier true rights are not clear and that is impinges on the copyright of postnuke developers past and present.
  
  Once this has done, should you wish to continue with postnuke as your base, you must restore ALL in-code credits and licences attached to all code derived from postnuke and it's modules (core and 3rd party).
  
  -Mark
  
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  Visit My homepage and Zikula themes.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Aug 25, 2005
  • Posts: 5

  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 10:52 PM

  Yes. I am close xportal download already.
  No one can download xportal.

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• markwest
  
  

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  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 10:58 PM

  Mike,
  
  The direct link posted above to download the software is still valid - the software should be removed from download until it is no longer in breach of GPL.
  
  -Mark
  
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  Visit My homepage and Zikula themes.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Aug 25, 2005
  • Posts: 5

  Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 11:20 PM

  sorry.
  
  That file is special design for school use only.
  
  I have remove file above already.

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