The controversy of open source community work being commercialized without recognition

In my search of the perfect UAV airframe to use with APM I found a few interesting websites and discoveries and thought I might share them with you.

 

It appears that there are a few companies in foreign countries trying to get the advantages of open source development without giving the proper people the recognition they need. Below "Agro-UAV" claims they have GCS software running on Windows, Mac, and Linux and in fact it’s Happy Killmore GCS but without mentioning his name anywhere or that the software is in development. Some might wonder what is at the heart of these Companies UAVs APMs. Sold an own? PDF of the products added below

 

(image above)

http://www.pakistanaerospace.co.cc/home

 

And this one flaunting Q ground control but atleast mentioning that it is open source software

AGRO-UAV.pdf

AGRO.pdf

http://www.aerobot.co.cc/

 

Wonder if emailed if they would tell what is the story behind there sucsses!

Views: 464


3D Robotics
Comment by Chris Anderson on May 26, 2011 at 6:58am
Good finds! Typically, open source licences do not require that original authorship be mentioned in all marketing materials, but it must be disclosed in the product itaelf. So these would only be in violation if they've changed the "About" screens to obscure the proper credit and authorship of the creators. Also, they must continue to freely distribute the source code with any changes they have made and original credit intact.

Moderator
Comment by Hooks on May 26, 2011 at 7:23am

I like the Address:

Pakistan Aerospace
Govt. Postgraduate College for Women Road
Canal Park
Rahim Yar Khan 64200
Pakistan

Comment by Johann Van Niekerk on May 26, 2011 at 7:45am
I Fully agree with you Chris and I read the open source licensing terms because of this subject but what I fund itresting in the PDFs was that they claim HK GCS works on Mac,Linux and windows which isn't true and thats a breach of terms and cons. also would they not need to disclose the fact that it is a APM open source Autopilot running the UAV? 
Comment by Sebastian Gralla on May 26, 2011 at 7:51am
maybe they used another autopilot and just used MAVlink
Comment by Johann Van Niekerk on May 26, 2011 at 8:01am

Sorry Seb

that last sentence should have been "if they where to use APM as the Autopilot"

Comment by Rory Paul on May 26, 2011 at 9:10am
See they like sample images from MicroPilot.
Comment by Ritchie on May 26, 2011 at 9:34am
Having done my best to be an active member for like minded individuals that appreciate effort in all forms I was not sure what to make of this except its rather cheeky to be bragging about something they did not invent remotely. My mother happened to see me with my puzzled face and said "whats up?" I read exactly what Johann had put and she said "Cheeky bastards!". Think that sums it up nicely :D
Comment by Johann Van Niekerk on May 26, 2011 at 11:24am

There are actually two more companies I found with the same cheekyness in india doing the same thing , but for the live of me I cant find them now.! Ritchie thats exaclty what I said aswell !!

 

Paul LOL now that you mention it the Images strike a nirve those are form MicroPilot.!

Comment by Andrew Radford on May 26, 2011 at 12:23pm
'Agro'-UAV  is a very poor choice for a name! sounds like a lot of trouble before even getting started!
Comment by Jack Crossfire on May 26, 2011 at 12:43pm

You have to be ready to be unemployed, while watching someone else make money on your work.

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