MPAA Steals Code, Violates Linkware License

Written by Smaran on February 17, 2007 

A blogger who wrote his own blogging engine called Forest Blog recently noticed that none other than the MPAA was using his work, and had completely violated his linkware license by removing all links back to the Forest Blog site, and had not credited him in any way.

Forest BlogPatrick Robin, a 29 year old web developer from South England, is the developer of an ASP-based blogging platform called Forest Blog. He distributes it freely under a linkware license, asking that anyone who uses it merely link back to his site where Forest Blog is offered for download. If someone wants to remove the links back to his site, they must purchase a license. A personal license costs 10 Pounds and a commercial one costs 25.

Amazingly, the MPAA seem to think they’re above “formalities” like licenses and such. The MPAA blog, located at www.mpaa.org/blog_default.asp (currently down - pic), was using Patrick’s Forest Blog software, but had been completely stripped of his name, and links back to his site. He only found about it accidentally when he happened to visit the MPAA site.

Clearly, there seems to be a lack of concern by the MPAA of others’ copyrighted works. Therefore, is it unsurprising that their customers seem to have the same attitude towards their movies?

According to Patrick, it isn’t something new to find his blogging software being used like this. What he finds really odd is that an organisation whose goal is to “protect” copyrighted creative works has no qualms in, essentially, stealing other people’s work. The MPAA still haven’t replied to a letter he sent them about the illegal use of his blogging software.

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108 Responses

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76 Feb 21, 2007 at 17:49 by g

death to glickman! it may seem a bit
harsh for you hippies out there, but
those bastards stop at nothing.

77 Feb 27, 2007 at 01:38 by Cleglaw

I linked to this article at the ElderScrolls forum and was suspended from the forum for 3 days. I received this PM from a moderator there:

“Linking to websites that advocate illegal file sharing isn’t tolerated on this forum.”

78 Jun 12, 2007 at 17:02 by zazwknsate

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79 Jun 13, 2007 at 08:40 by ktagthzqdj

daubrrn

80 Jul 20, 2007 at 00:52 by hmm

That proves once again the MPAA are just abunch of big fat hypocrites out for more money, The RIAA is exactly the same.

81 Jul 21, 2007 at 00:15 by El Grande Suck

Rotten fuckers MPAA are THE criminals!

82 Aug 25, 2007 at 07:40 by DP

thats a fucking lame reason…oh i am testing if pirated software can rip music…but yeah we are criminals to pirate it

I think ppl should think thoroughly when they make rules

It is not even in god’s hands to stop piracy.;….we are merely humans

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