Hi,
I'm currently trying to start a new open-source project that will do the same as WINE did with the windows API, but for a Sony framework, named OPEN-R. This framework allows users to write programs for Sony's robots (namely the dog AIBO). But Sony has discontinued the robotics division and they won't provide support for the framework. I already have the initial code running. I can already compile the code for a non-MIPS platform (their robots are MIPS based) and also load the code and run it. Of course there are still many function stubs.
My question is about legal things. Is it considered reverse-engineering to re-implement the Sony's framework (the API is somewhat documented)? Did you have some law problems with Microsoft? One more thing: How do you do with the headers? do you use original Microsoft's headers or did you rewrite them? I'm currently using Sony's headers, which can't be redistributed. So I also have a problem here. How can I rewrite the headers, so that they aren't considered a copy??
I would love if you could answer my questions, so that I can make the project public as soon as possible.
Best Regards, Nuno
P.S.: btw, nice work with valgrind ;) I think I'll start to test my windows apps for memleaks in linux.
Please note: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IANAL
Nuno Lopes wrote:
I'm currently trying to start a new open-source project that will do the same as WINE did with the windows API, but for a Sony framework, named OPEN-R. ... I would love if you could answer my questions, so that I can make the project public as soon as possible.
Your questions are quite involved and many do not have clear cut answers. And while there are some similarities between your project's issues and WINE's, there are some key legal differences, including particularly legal decisions regarding Microsoft's monopoly.
Another similar situation existed with LEGO Mindstorms. While initial community developments were technically in violation of some terms of the EULA (which may or may not be enforceable in some jurisdictions) the key was LEGO's reaction. Rather than pursuing legal action against the community developers, they decided instead to embrace them and provide tacit and subsequently explicit support.
If Sony were to pursue legal action against you, whether your activities are legal or not is only secondary as the cost of defense is bound to be prohibitive. Perhaps you can use LEGO's example to help persuade Sony to release the software (with no support of course) using a suitable open source license (ideally GPL of course).
In addition to looking to the LEGO community for ideas, you might find some help at OSI and EFF.
http://www.opensource.org/ http://www.eff.org/ http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics/
Good luck!
Jim White
First let me thank you for your fast answer.
On 3/14/06, Jim White jim@pagesmiths.com wrote:
Please note: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IANAL
Nuno Lopes wrote:
I'm currently trying to start a new open-source project that will do the same as WINE did with the windows API, but for a Sony framework, named OPEN-R. ... I would love if you could answer my questions, so that I can make the project public as soon as possible.
Your questions are quite involved and many do not have clear cut answers. And while there are some similarities between your project's issues and WINE's, there are some key legal differences, including particularly legal decisions regarding Microsoft's monopoly.
Another similar situation existed with LEGO Mindstorms. While initial community developments were technically in violation of some terms of the EULA (which may or may not be enforceable in some jurisdictions) the key was LEGO's reaction. Rather than pursuing legal action against the community developers, they decided instead to embrace them and provide tacit and subsequently explicit support.
I (and many others) have already contacted Sony, but they don't even answer our e-mails, so I don't have much hope to hear from them. Also I'm not planing to run this software on the robots themselves, as I would need to reverse-engeneering the hardwares BUS, which are proprietary. So, even if they make the code public, some (probably many) changes need to be done, so that it can run on a normal pc.
If Sony were to pursue legal action against you, whether your activities are legal or not is only secondary as the cost of defense is bound to be prohibitive. Perhaps you can use LEGO's example to help persuade Sony to release the software (with no support of course) using a suitable open source license (ideally GPL of course).
For now, I think I'll open a project at sourceforge to let them see that the code already runs without any problems.
In addition to looking to the LEGO community for ideas, you might find some help at OSI and EFF.
http://www.opensource.org/ http://www.eff.org/ http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics/
I've already contacted OSI, but not EFF. I'll also contact them.
Good luck!
Thanks :)
Nuno
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Jim White -
Nuno Lopes