Q
Qhimm
Guest
I'm not the one to easily become annoyed, but this... see for yourselves.I received a ...well, slightly disturbing mail today from a fellow calling himself Tuan Nhi. First of all, take a look on his [url="<a]http://www.ifrance.com/ffantasyworld/[/url]" TARGET=_blank>site , particularly the [url="<a]http://www.ifrance.com/ffantasyworld/app/ffeditor.htm[/url]" TARGET=_blank>Final Fantasy Editor , carefully taking in the layout of the page, the design on the actual program and the complete lack of links or crediting to a certain person. Feel free to download it and try it out, get the feel of it. The design, the control style, even the program icon. Check the About box, too. See which brave souls made this program possible.
Now, getting down to business and the hard facts of the case. From what I can tell, this editor was based on the Griever source code. I've traced my checksum routine, and it's very much intact in this FFEditor. Even some of the graphics are intact, like the icon and the character images, not to mention the owner-drawn control routines. The background-image in the main window/list has been removed/replaced, though the list code itself seems pretty much intact. I suspect large parts of the code are in fact entirely intact, like the checksum routine.
Now I'm not ranting about people using my source code; that's what it's there for. This person has even made some improvements over the old Griever program, adding limit break editing support. ...Or so I *think*, I can't actually test the editor since I don't have FF8 installed, and he removed the drag&drop support. Someone please fill me in on the changes in the program. The biggest improvement over Griever though, must be that this editor does not require MFC. Quite a feat, removing that (!)
No, what bothers me is that
1) He has removed any references to me and my site, in violation of what in the usage terms on my site. Regardless of whether he uses the code on it's own or just parts of it, this is standard netiquette.
2) He has not kept the project open-source, something I ask of everyone continuing my project. Programs like this are not meant to fuel some thief's ego.
3) He has blatantly stolen my web design; even the html style I use to code is mainly intact, he just messed around with the colors/fonts and changed the images on the left. This I would not tolerate even if he did credit me.
4) He's french, it's hard to read his site ^_^
5) He mailed me asking for help with the FF9 save files, is he completely stupid?! He steals my work, presents it as his own and expects me to help him?!
But it doesn't stop there, he has also asked me to link to his site. I am very tempted to do just that, it might reveal his theft to a broader public. But, before I reply or do anything, I thought I'd get your views and opinions on this. So...?
[This message has been edited by Qhimm (edited April 02, 2001).]
Now, getting down to business and the hard facts of the case. From what I can tell, this editor was based on the Griever source code. I've traced my checksum routine, and it's very much intact in this FFEditor. Even some of the graphics are intact, like the icon and the character images, not to mention the owner-drawn control routines. The background-image in the main window/list has been removed/replaced, though the list code itself seems pretty much intact. I suspect large parts of the code are in fact entirely intact, like the checksum routine.
Now I'm not ranting about people using my source code; that's what it's there for. This person has even made some improvements over the old Griever program, adding limit break editing support. ...Or so I *think*, I can't actually test the editor since I don't have FF8 installed, and he removed the drag&drop support. Someone please fill me in on the changes in the program. The biggest improvement over Griever though, must be that this editor does not require MFC. Quite a feat, removing that (!)
No, what bothers me is that
1) He has removed any references to me and my site, in violation of what in the usage terms on my site. Regardless of whether he uses the code on it's own or just parts of it, this is standard netiquette.
2) He has not kept the project open-source, something I ask of everyone continuing my project. Programs like this are not meant to fuel some thief's ego.
3) He has blatantly stolen my web design; even the html style I use to code is mainly intact, he just messed around with the colors/fonts and changed the images on the left. This I would not tolerate even if he did credit me.
4) He's french, it's hard to read his site ^_^
5) He mailed me asking for help with the FF9 save files, is he completely stupid?! He steals my work, presents it as his own and expects me to help him?!
But it doesn't stop there, he has also asked me to link to his site. I am very tempted to do just that, it might reveal his theft to a broader public. But, before I reply or do anything, I thought I'd get your views and opinions on this. So...?
[This message has been edited by Qhimm (edited April 02, 2001).]
