Selling Open Source Software, And Why It's Okay

[[ F I B E R P U N K ]]

It seems that there's some growing controversy over "loong's utilities Playnite" on Steam which seems to be a clone of the popular Open Source game manager "Playnite". Playnite is licensed under MIT which gives ANYONE the right to sell the software, so there's nothing wrong with that aspect.

There can be beneficial aspects of this relationship:

• Often times Free Software projects are forked and improved upon, creating a derivative work. Code improvements can be submitted back to the original project. This could be adding localization, additional features, fixing bugs, etc...
  
• The software reseller can offer additional support to customers e.g. Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
  
• With Steam specifically, folks often prefer to purchase products on this platform. They want the experience and features that Steam offers, giving users more choice of where and how they obtain their software. Although they have to pay for the privilege, some will still opt to do so over obtaining it for free elsewhere.

"loongjinlong" is an unknown developer, we don't know their intentions with selling this software. Are they maintaining or improving the software? Do they plan to support customers? Are they just trying to cash in on someone else's work without providing any other value? We simply don't know at this stage, but it's easy to jump to the worst conclusion. If the developer ends up reading this, please let everyone know what your intentions are for this project.

There's also some concerns that there may be malware added to this product. If the developer would like to send me a Steam key for the software (and preferably the source code too) I could analyze it for safety and report back to the community to help dispel any fears in this regard. You can also send it to me through Steam's Curator Connect at Proton Compatible.

On the terms of price, I admit it seems expensive. However it's up to the seller to pick their pricing model and you can always get the original Playnite for free, so it's not really a big issue for the customer.

I would also like to suggest that the developer change the name and branding of the software away from "Playnite" and their logos. Just to eliminate any possibility someone could mistake this as an official release by Playnite. I don't know if it's trademarked but it's probably a good idea to do this anyways. Just because software is open source doesn't necessarily give you permission to use their identity as well.

Playnite License (MIT): https://github.com/JosefNemec/Playnite/blob/master/LICENSE.md

[Dark Sun Gwyndolin]

Being technically legal doesn't make it ethical. The original dev may be legally powerless to stop it, but Valve is under no obligation to sell such a lazy, greedy, cash-in.

[[ F I B E R P U N K ]]

The original dev isn't legally powerless, they allowed it via their licensing. I agree that Valve should curtail this behavior however. Not because it's illegal but because I don't see a realistic business model for this product, at least in its current state.

[Zarelious]

Intressting enough I never even heard of this program until this happened. SO he is bringing more attention to what seems to be a very useful program that is free to use.

[[ F I B E R P U N K ]]

Agreed.

[Aythadis]

Playnite is an awesome software... is it worth the almost $100 price tag?! Oh hell no!!

[Aythadis]

I think this "Dev" is just trying to get some easy money for no work. It looks like this Dev is Chinese, based on his other game he sells.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1236250/Cult/

[DakotaThrice]

Originally posted by >noderunner_:

Playnite is licensed under MIT which gives ANYONE the right to sell the software, so there's nothing wrong with that aspect.

One key point is that the MIT license requires the license to be maintained, if this version isn't being distributed along with a copy of the MIT license then they don't have the rights to sell it.

[marc]

Originally posted by DakotaThrice:

Originally posted by >noderunner_:

Playnite is licensed under MIT which gives ANYONE the right to sell the software, so there's nothing wrong with that aspect.

One key point is that the MIT license requires the license to be maintained, if this version isn't being distributed along with a copy of the MIT license then they don't have the rights to sell it.

NO, that's not true. You are thinking of GPL. With MIT you can take the source code and change or remove the license entirely. https://choosealicense.com/licenses/mit/

[A D L]

People like you OP are why people make fun of the open source community. You're really gonna defend this low effort nonsense to a fault?

[[ F I B E R P U N K ]]

Originally posted by mj:

Originally posted by DakotaThrice:

One key point is that the MIT license requires the license to be maintained, if this version isn't being distributed along with a copy of the MIT license then they don't have the rights to sell it.

NO, that's not true. You are thinking of GPL. With MIT you can take the source code and change or remove the license entirely. https://choosealicense.com/licenses/mit/

IANAL: You're not allowed to remove the copyright information, the only requirement of the MIT license states:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

Originally posted by ADL:

People like you OP are why people make fun of the open source community. You're really gonna defend this low effort nonsense to a fault?

I'm not defending the product, only the legality of selling other people's work when the license permits it. The fact is this happens all the time, ever looked at the legal information in your phone's menus? You'll discover licenses for hundreds of Open Source projects, work that is taken for free and sold in all the gadgets almost everyone uses in their daily lives. Gadgets that wouldn't exist in their current state if it wasn't for Open Source. Anyone who wants to make fun of the Open Source community can feel free, but they're benefiting from it whether they know it or not.

[jakopo87]

Originally posted by >noderunner_:

The fact is this happens all the time, ever looked at the legal information in your phone's menus? You'll discover licenses for hundreds of Open Source projects, work that is taken for free and sold in all the gadgets almost everyone uses in their daily lives.

They are selling products derived by the use of open source libraries, it's not the same.

Originally posted by >noderunner_:

It seems that there's some growing controversy over "loong's utilities Playnite" on Steam which seems to be a clone of the popular Open Source game manager "Playnite". Playnite is licensed under MIT which gives ANYONE the right to sell the software, so there's nothing wrong with that aspect.

Yes, that may be legally correct as the MIT license does not explicitly forbid to resell a software "as is" (unlike other licenses, the SIL Open Font License[scripts.sil.org] is an example).

The simple fact that that the developer did not bother to even change the icon or the name of the software makes quite clear that this is just a move to make some easy money on naive users.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

I don't agree with the person selling this, I don't agree with the license which I completely think the Dev must be on crack, or was an complete moron for making this MIT license.

But sadly I have to agree with OP because it's correct the person that selling it for $100 is within their rights to sell the software on Steam, and can do whatever he pleases with the software as well. This will only bring and encourage trolls, and scammers. Yes clearly this is half ***, and we have no idea what his intentions.

I will say this if anyone reading this, DO NOT BUY THIS as you can get this 100% FREE from playnite themselves. https://playnite.link/

[[ F I B E R P U N K ]]

Originally posted by jakopo87:

They are selling products derived by the use of open source libraries, it's not the same.

Sure, taking an existing Open Source project and selling it on Steam isn't the same as using Open Source in a gadget as one creates more value than the other, but both are allowed by the license. If you think you can make money selling it in any form you're free to do so.

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

I don't agree with the person selling this, I don't agree with the license which I completely think the Dev must be on crack, or was an complete moron for making this MIT license.

I assure you the developers are sane and picked this license as a conscious decision. If you don't like it you're welcome to fork the project and sub-license it under more restrictive terms. I doubt you'll see many community members willing to become contributors though.

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

This will only bring and encourage trolls, and scammers.

So totally unlike the usual products on Steam?

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by >noderunner_:

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

I don't agree with the person selling this, I don't agree with the license which I completely think the Dev must be on crack, or was an complete moron for making this MIT license.

I assure you the developers are sane and picked this license as a conscious decision. If you don't like it you're welcome to fork the project and sub-license it under more restrictive terms. I doubt you'll see many community members willing to become contributors though.

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

This will only bring and encourage trolls, and scammers.

So totally unlike the usual products on Steam?

Yea totally make sense to assume someone that stating their opinion, and assume they're the developer just because they don't agree/like what going on, top notch work. And of course I don't think many people will try forking the current license changes from what it's currently is, but like I said you're paying someone for something free open source that already provided by the community github, and this can only bring trolls, and scammers in this sense since they don't even have to do anything for playnite, and just going to piggy back off whatever future updates basically at that points due to that MIT license, and call it their own literally.

I mean if you're all in support and happy to buy this product for $100, I'm not stopping you, but me not agreeing with this as in opinion, is what it is.

Also greenlight, and Steam direct, made it possible to sell / resell other people work, but also shows some people are willing to do anything for quick buck, especially straight up just steal other people work, even if it was under GPL license, such as M.U.G.E.N, or etc...