Re: [Opengc-devel] status/Avsim conference update/RFC

[John W. <ca...@mm...>]

Hi
>
> So here's the problem... if the source code and binaries are made
> completely available for a finished product (I'm talking here about the
> homebuilt aircraft market), what's to stop some other hardware company
> - presumably with more resources than me - from releasing a competing
> product derived completely from OpenGC? While it is technically not
> legal to do this without also releasing the source code, I don't know
> that it would be possible to prove that they violated the GPL without a
> lengthy court process.
>
So why should anyone contribute source code to an open-source project that
anyone can use for profit without providing any value added from a derived
product? I cuts both ways. Example, I've got a pretty decent FMC running on
my system ( My masters thesis at Purdue was on control and optimization of
shuttle approach trajectories) and with a little effort and application of
current control theory you could turn it into a reasonable autopilot. That
code will NEVER leave the confines of my hard drive.

Plus there is the added potential for litigation.

The last thing I need is for someone to grab all or part of my code and the
algorithms, put out a commercial product, and the next thing I know my
attorney and I are in court because either the manufacturer goofed in
modifying the code and/or some idiot pilot flew into the side of a mountain.
Yes, I know what the license and warranty state...  try telling that to the
judge and jury. And funny how lawyers seem to gravitate towards "deep
pockets"

I don't know what to suggest. You seem determined to try a commercial
venture that involves a high level of risk ( wonder why they call it
experimental/home built ) with software and derivations based on an
open-source license and project that started out as a learning exercise.  I
simply cannot agree with such a change

Hopefully, you understand my position.

Regards
John W.