[Chris M]

Originally Posted by zsdave

I'm new to vb.org and new to vb but I do feel that vb.org needs real change, it is a major asset to vb and part of the reason so many users are attracted to vb and compelled to renew their license.

Hackers vs Hackers: Does anyone here copyright php code? Does anyone fork out ?300-400 to copyright an open source hack? "Ownership" of hacks should be changed - aslong as credit is given where credit is due - anyone should be allowed to modify code and release it, I'm not saying take hack x call it hack y and release it, I mean; if the way the hack runs is significantly improved or changed why cant it be shared on vb.org? What's the problem? If as a hack creator you dont like this simply take your code down to the copyright offices and get it copyrighted.

Recent example:
I created a shoutbox addon for vbindex (it adds a shoutbox to the forum home display and also adds top 10 shouters and number of shouts a member has made)
Some of the queries where the same as those via the original vbindex code, have you not heard the expression: Don't reinvent the wheel. The addon did use a large amount of code from vbindex but it was an addon and credit was given, still NTLDR removed the addon. I released this because, I wanted it so I figured someone else may want it. That should be the reason hacks are released. (Unless someone wants a hacker to make a hack)
My addon added atleast 4 major things: shoutcounter, forum home display, forum home shout adding, top ten shouters. It is absurd to remove an addon which adds something just because someone else made it using some of your code.

Hackers Attitude:
This leads on to overall hackers attitude to eachother and to non hackers:

• hackers are not on a higher level of existence
• hackers should all work to one goal: to further improve vbulletin by releasing addons
• hacks do not compete for members to use them
• hack counts aren't important

Not sure why some hackers think the above things are not true. But, sad as it is, people can be like that.

support
I enjoy supporting my hack(s), however frustrating, it gives ideas for improvement, bugfixes and improves the community feel of vb.org. Some hackers don't like to support their modifications, and that's fair. Hacks are released under no obligation or warranty, I don't think anyone has the right to complain or demand anything from anyone on this forum.

Basicly I agree with the first post:

- hacks should not have strict ownership aslong as credit is given. Hackers are working together not in competition. Ok it's a male dominated community but why compete over something so pointless.

- vb.org needs to address this issue, the forum does need opening so that there is a clear catagory to talk about making mods and hack in progress areas and other such stuff...

Firstly, what does a male dominated community have to do with anything? I fail to see the relevance of this gender bias in this debate...

Secondly, about NTLDR's actions - The vB.org rules state that you are not allowed to modify and/or release without prior consent from the original hack author... That means you should have asked NTLDR before releasing anything which uses code from vBindex...

Thirdly:

Does anyone here copyright php code? Does anyone fork out ?300-400 to copyright an open source hack? "Ownership" of hacks should be changed - aslong as credit is given where credit is due - anyone should be allowed to modify code and release it, I'm not saying take hack x call it hack y and release it, I mean; if the way the hack runs is significantly improved or changed why cant it be shared on vb.org? What's the problem? If as a hack creator you dont like this simply take your code down to the copyright offices and get it copyrighted.

I think you will find, that if you check the copyright laws thoroughly, all of your works and ideas relating to your works, i.e. code and/or website designs etc, are actually Copyright the person who created them, without the need to "fork out ?300 - 400"...

Check the "Copyright, Design and Patents Act of 1988" (in the UK) for more details...

And finally, please check the rules before you do something which the Mods must take action over - I understand you are new, but we have been abiding by the laws for some time now, and have come to accept them...

I feel it is always the newer members who never seem to get the idea of the history and former community of vB.org :ermm:

Satan