[MPlayer-dev-eng] KiSS of copyright

[Diego Biurrun]

D Richard Felker III writes:
 > On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 04:06:23AM +0200, Ivan Kalvachev wrote:
 > > I would like to aware the developers that negotioations may not have been
 > > finished.
 > > I had an conversation with Gabucino on irc and I'm very upset of the matter
 > > of negotiations. I'm even upset that very few developers new that there are
 > > any negotiations at all.
 > > In summary the negotiation look this way: "We give you $2500 and you forgot
 > > about it. We will rewrite our code."
 > > The code under question is not identified, nor the copyright holders.
 > > I'm afraid what the rest of comunnity will say about this kind of agreement.
 > > I would like all developers that think their code may have been stolen to
 > > take a side in this "agreement"
 > > I personally have send a letter ot KiSS informing them that I would like
 > > to get the source of "their" subtitle reader and to find out is there
 > > any my code. And I definitly haven't given right to gabucino to represent
 > > me.
 > 
 > I'd like to hear from the parties involved in this "conspiracy" with
 > their sides of the story. We've already heard from Gabucino on IRC,
 > but he says Arpi and Alex have been involved in the negotiations too.
 > This whole fiasco is a huge blemish on MPlayer as it stands, and I
 > feel all the developers deserve a thorough explanation (and possibly
 > an apology, depending on what's been done).
 > 
 > I have also written to KiSS expressing that the authorization of the
 > numerous copyright holders for the stolen code has not been obtained
 > to negotiate a settlement.
 > 
 > Very disappointed,

All of you, please cut Gabucino some slack.  I'm sure he did his very
best in representing the project and did so with the best intentions.
I read one mail he sent to KISS and it was brilliant.  Moreover he has
been the "legal maintainer" of MPlayer and nobody complained so far.

Nevertheless this time the handling of this whole incident could have
been better.  The negotiations with KISS should have been more
transparent and IRC is not the best medium to discuss these kinds of
things.  When trying to represent so many people with so many
different attitudes a lot of things have to be taken into account.

Anyway, the worst thing we can do now is splinter and send different
demands to KISS all on our own.  We need to stand united in this
affair.  In order to achieve this we have to agree upon a _common_ set
of goals.

IIUC the donation has already taken place, so we will have to live
with the consequences for good or ill.  Now we need to agree upon the
next step.  Is there some way for us to reach a settlement with them?
What should it look like?  Do we insist on forcing them to release
(parts of) their code?

Diego