Development of SMFforum Integration module is terminated due to claims of Simple Machines LLC.

According the letters from Michael "Oldiesmann" Eshom, Project Manager, Simple Machines LLC:
"SMF integration module contains modified versions of several SMF functions.
While I realize this may be necessary due to function and variable name conflicts
between SMF and Drupal, it is a violation of the license -
you cannot distribute SMF or any part of it (modified or otherwise) without permission."

"The problem isn't with the smfforum.module file or the packages distributed on drupal.org.
The problem is with the "smf_api_subs.php" file that you're distributing as part of the smf api package -
it contains modified versions of several SMF functions, and you did not ask for permission
to use this code or distribute it.

Michael Eshom asked me: "Please remove your packages as they are a violation of our license.
We do not want to prevent you from bridging SMF and Drupal, but we cannot allow
you to use modified copies of SMF functions in your code. You will need to write custom functions
to provide the functionality you need."
Now all smf_api_2.zip packages have been removed from support site http://vgb.org.ru.
Without smf_api_2.zip package smfforum.module cannot work.
I do not see any sense to rewrite a lot of code in smf_api_2.zip to access SMF code not using partly this code.
Because this provides identical results inside from bridge and SMF and guaranties api functionality of high quality.
All this deadlock situation is impossible in open software and happened only because of license incompatibilities of
smfforum.module which is under GPLv2 and smf_api_2.zip package which is under non-GPL license (SMF license).

I have decided to terminate development of the smfforum.module and smf_api_2.zip package.

All existing users will get support and bug fixing updates on http://vgb.org.ru or via contact form.

Comments

carlmcdade’s picture

This is sad but I did try and put the word out about SMF and it's gray licensing a couple of years ago. I was hoping that they would change but it seems that they have just become more hard line.

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to.biotive’s picture

I am crying!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was looking for something like this long ago, and stoped because everything I founded was a bit hard for my little knowledge of drupal and coding. And now that I find that some one did something to implement Drupal in a smf forum, there are some license problems. I thought all this just happened in the microsoft world. It is so sad.

But anyway, I just can thank you for your hard work.

to.biotive’s picture

WOW Sorry to everyone.
I just saw this:

Distribution of the smf_api_2 package is resumed due to the express permission granted from Simple Machines LLC
Mon, 04/28/2008 - 23:34

http://vgb.org.ru/node/34

It looks like very good news!!!!!!!