NOTICE: Copyright removed on a hosting site.

[SAP]Francis · September 03, 2009, 07:03:05 PM

http://proboards.com/

They have SMF forums for free, to host. But they do not provide ANY copyright for Simple Machines. I don't know whether this is in the right section but I wanted to let you know.

For example, take this board:
http://newarkmod.proboards.com/

Also, if it isn't an SM Forum, it is not my fault because if you look at a topic, it is clearly exactly the same as SM.

Please take action.

Ravenshade · September 03, 2009, 07:16:14 PM

But why, SMF is free, and everyone knows its SMF. If the person is selling it for profit then there's an issue, but until then, it's free ^_^ so no real issue.

[SAP]Francis · September 03, 2009, 07:17:14 PM

Quote from: Ravenshade on September 03, 2009, 07:16:14 PM
But why, SMF is free, and everyone knows its SMF. If the person is selling it for profit then there's an issue, but until then, it's free ^_^ so no real issue.

It is a real issue. Read the SMF copyright, you cannot remove the copyright from ANYWHERE in the forum.

JBlaze · September 03, 2009, 07:18:32 PM

Thank you for letting us know. This is in violation of the Simple Machines License

I will be letting the team know.

[SAP]Francis · September 03, 2009, 07:19:37 PM

Quote from: JBlaze on September 03, 2009, 07:18:32 PM
Thank you for letting us know. This is in violation of the Simple Machines License

I will be letting the team know.

So it is really a SMF board?

JBlaze · September 03, 2009, 07:22:24 PM

I take that back. At first look, I thought it was an SMF forum that they provided.

Now that I took a second look, it is not an SMF forum that they provide, so there is nothing we can do

Arantor · September 03, 2009, 07:22:59 PM

If it really is an SMF installation - and I've never been entirely convinced it is - then it's in breach, but also VERY heavily modified.

[SAP]Francis · September 03, 2009, 07:23:23 PM

Quote from: JBlaze on September 03, 2009, 07:22:24 PM
I take that back. At first look, I thought it was an SMF forum that they provided.

Now that I took a second look, it is not an SMF forum that they provide, so there is nothing we can do

Let the team know so you can investigate more

青山素子 · September 03, 2009, 09:08:25 PM

ProBoards runs on a heavily modified version of YaBB, which is coded in Perl.

It looks so similar because SMF is the spiritual descendant of YaBB SE which was a rewrite of YaBB in PHP. The SMF classic theme is a port of the YaBB SE theme, which was based on the YaBB Gold SP 1 release (or one of the releases right around there).

So, this is not a violation since it's a different product entirely. However, thanks for letting us know. If you see any other possible sites, please do mention them.

[SAP]Francis · September 03, 2009, 09:49:28 PM

Quote from: Motoko-chan on September 03, 2009, 09:08:25 PM
ProBoards runs on a heavily modified version of YaBB, which is coded in Perl.

It looks so similar because SMF is the spiritual descendant of YaBB SE which was a rewrite of YaBB in PHP. The SMF classic theme is a port of the YaBB SE theme, which was based on the YaBB Gold SP 1 release (or one of the releases right around there).

So, this is not a violation since it's a different product entirely. However, thanks for letting us know. If you see any other possible sites, please do mention them.

But didn't YaBB have a license stating that copyrights aren't allowed to be removed?

napsta · September 03, 2009, 10:12:49 PM

Yabb doesnt exist anymore, and if they do, take the issue up with them

Arantor · September 03, 2009, 10:58:13 PM

YaBB is most certainly still going. I'm sure they have been notified though I have a feeling their license may actually permit this.

[SAP]Francis · September 04, 2009, 08:04:07 AM

QuoteLicense Information YaBB is completely free to use. All we ask is that you keep the copyright in tact and visible on the bottom of your forum. This is to ensure that the project and all of the developers are given credit for their hard work. YaBB is distributed under the YPL (YaBB Public License), which is a slightly modified form of the GPL. You can read this license in the Quick Guide distributed with YaBB. If you would like to remove the copyright, redistribute YaBB, or use it in any other non-standard fashion, please consult the Licenses page.

Also, the copyright removal costs 150$, per site. So I don't think a free hosting company would pay 150$ each time a board is created. Another thing too: (on proboards.com)

Quote• Number of boards hosted: 3,085,233

Would they really have paid over 462,784,950$? Let me answer, no.

Although this will be locked as this has nothing to do with SM, I posted this so that if anybody sees an YaBB forum without copyright, that they should report it.

Thanks,

青山素子 · September 04, 2009, 11:11:00 AM

I think (but have not confirmed) that the older versions of YaBB are under a more relaxed license.

Windy · September 04, 2009, 11:27:39 PM

Quote from: [SAP]Francis on September 04, 2009, 08:04:07 AM
QuoteLicense Information YaBB is completely free to use. All we ask is that you keep the copyright in tact and visible on the bottom of your forum. This is to ensure that the project and all of the developers are given credit for their hard work. YaBB is distributed under the YPL (YaBB Public License), which is a slightly modified form of the GPL. You can read this license in the Quick Guide distributed with YaBB. If you would like to remove the copyright, redistribute YaBB, or use it in any other non-standard fashion, please consult the Licenses page.

Also, the copyright removal costs 150$, per site. So I don't think a free hosting company would pay 150$ each time a board is created. Another thing too: (on proboards.com)
Quote• Number of boards hosted: 3,085,233
Would they really have paid over 462,784,950$? Let me answer, no.

Although this will be locked as this has nothing to do with SM, I posted this so that if anybody sees an YaBB forum without copyright, that they should report it.

Thanks,

I'd probably say if it's a per site license, proboards.com is still only 1 site, just with a lot of boards.

kai920 · September 09, 2009, 12:24:59 PM

Is this SMF? http://tinyurl.com/m6lr38

Oldiesmann · September 09, 2009, 12:59:56 PM

Quote from: kai920 on September 09, 2009, 12:24:59 PM
Is this SMF? http://tinyurl.com/m6lr38

Yes. Appears to be integrated with Joomla. Will contact them when I get home from work tonight.

[SAP]Francis · September 09, 2009, 04:53:45 PM

Quote from: Oldiesmann on September 09, 2009, 12:59:56 PM
Quote from: kai920 on September 09, 2009, 12:24:59 PM
Is this SMF? http://tinyurl.com/m6lr38

Yes. Appears to be integrated with Joomla. Will contact them when I get home from work tonight.

The whole Komrade company removes copyright:

http://www.komrade.gr/

You should contact them too.

Oldiesmann · September 11, 2009, 11:08:23 AM

I can't find any evidence that Komrade is responsible for the copyright removal. Out of all the sites shown on their website, only three have forums. One is missing the copyright (the one that Kai mentioned), one has the copyright, and the third just gives you a message saying that the forum is only open to registered users.

Arantor · September 11, 2009, 11:13:54 AM

I note that on the forum in question, Komrade's copyright is listed though SMF's isn't, which seems suggestive to me.

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NOTICE: Copyright removed on a hosting site.