Re: [wsjt-devel] Licensing Issue of SuperFox Mode

[OG55W <og...@oh...>]

Hello Mr. Ciao !
PSE use Your call sign with the sign of Your Messages!

73 Keijo OG5O


Fons Adriaensen via wsjt-devel kirjoitti 20.7.2024 klo 13.56:
> On Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 03:07:34PM -0400, Joe Taylor via wsjt-devel wrote:
>   
>> The following text is from "Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU
>> Licenses", https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html :
>>
>> "[P]ipes, sockets and command-line arguments are communication mechanisms
>> normally used between two separate programs... [W]hen they are used for
>> communication, the modules normally are [considered] separate programs."
> That certainly makes sense if there is a clear separation of
> functionality or if that functionality is entirely optional,
> e.g. logging or visualisation.
>
> The text you quoted continues:
>
>    "But if the semantics of the communication are intimate enough,
>    exchanging complex internal data structures, that too could be
>    a basis to consider the two parts as combined into a larger
>    program."
>
> In this case the three closed source programs perform what
> could be considered 'core' functionality: encoding/modulation
> and demodulation/decoding of the superfox waveform.
>
> If that is acceptable, then the whole DSP part of WSJTX could be
> delegated to some closed source binaries, leaving only the user
> interface. Would you call such a WSJTX still 'open source' ?
> If not, then where is the dividing line ?
>
> IMHO at least the waveform should be fully documented, allowing
> others to create their own implementation of the closed source
> programs. And I wonder what are the legal aspects of using an
> undocumented waveform on the HAM bands.
>
> If the secrecy is there only to protect the fox callsign
> authentication, then it will be just a matter of time before
> we'll see another example of why 'security by obscurity' is
> a bad idea. The amount of data that can be squeezed into a
> fox message seems to be way too small for any really secure
> cryptographic scheme. So this will be a very juicy target
> for anyone who enjoys cracking such things. That includes
> me :-) At least that would be an 'educational' side of
> superfox...
>
> Just my 2 Eurocents of course.
>
> Ciao,
>