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movie78 · 2016-01-04, 16:10

Kodi GPL violation is as complicated as it comes..

**hdmkv** · 2016-01-04, 16:16

Yep, but all I really want to know is (based on Wolly's PM to me on previous page) should we allow VidOn player and app (on Minix, Tronsmart, etc.) discussion w/o labeling them as a "violator" or blacklisting them.

wrxtasy · (This post was last modified: 2016-01-04, 17:18 by wrxtasy.)

I pretty bloody simply.

Let VidOn and MINIX and well for that matter open up their completely up to date Github sources containing the modified Kodi source code that goes into these thinly masquerading XBMC (in name only) Kodi versions they sell for Profit. Open them up for the benefit of the whole Kodi community of developers and users to further the Kodi project with an exchange of ideas and peer review.

hdmkv, Don't be so quick to let VidOn or Tronsmart or anyone else off the hook with no proof of GPL2 compliance whatsoever and no GitHub source code or similar links shown.

This is a how a legally and resources poor Kodi community forces change for the greater good.

I see no Links volunteered in the Email you received from Wolly as I would expect from an Open, transparent Company.

You see the trouble is once VidOn open up their modified source code their business model quickly goes down the drain.

They can squeal and protest innocence all they like but until we see that modified GPL2 XBMC / Kodi code in broad daylight I am still going to label them as GPL violators and not help anyone whatsoever, who is running their modified source code on a Kodi device.

Quote: Does the GPL allow me to distribute a modified or beta version under a nondisclosure agreement?

No. The GPL says that your modified versions must carry all the freedoms stated in the GPL. Thus, anyone who receives a copy of your version from you has the right to redistribute copies (modified or not) of that version. You may not distribute any version of the work on a more restrictive basis.

https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl-faq.htm...tyToPublic

Openness, transparency and giving back to the Kodi project itself is the way forward in 2016. Without it the project itself will cease to exist.
Seriously, one Email protesting innocence and saying it was not me your honor does not absolve anything.

VidOn and MINIX show the whole Kodi community your modified GPL2 XBMC / Kodi source code contained in these XBMC versions you distribute.

Until you do consider yourselves on Notice from this point onwards as there are Kodi developers getting pretty pissed off at the moment that I talk to behind the scenes.
There is talk of the Free Software Foundation getting involved such is the degree of anger.

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-violation.en.html

Wolly · (This post was last modified: 2016-01-04, 17:16 by Wolly.)

Vidon XBMC also uses the "external player" like Himedia, the difference is that they use the real external player but we put the "external player" in the kodi, and we also open sourced our code on the github.
Here is the code related to RK3368 that we submitted to the community (Not accepted due to some other reasons)
https://github.com/vidonme/xbmc/tree/mas...donme.card

And here are two pull request records that accepted by the community.
https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/8658#i...-167071711
https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/8659#i...-167075052

We are trying our best to contribute more code for the community, so Vidon is not a GPL violator.

wrxtasy · (This post was last modified: 2016-01-04, 17:32 by wrxtasy.)

Finally after what is it at least a Year we get to see something from a VidOn GitHub.

Thanks for supplying the links Wolly.

Now where is the AMLogic Android XBMC / Kodi modified code you use for VidOn XBMC ?
You are modifying Kodi code plugging in whatever player you may be using internally. GPL Compliance is needed there.

Until that shows up as well hdmkv should keep AMlogic devices containing this VidOn XBMC version on his GPL Violators List.

I also ask please that you stop referring to your XBMC VidOn version as "Powered by Kodi".
I would say that is very close to a Kodi Trademark infringement right there.

MINIX now its you turn, including the VidOn patches you have put into your Kodi code for your custom XBMC 15.3.
And please don't point me at Koying's Github and insult my intelligence.

Wolly · 2016-01-04, 17:33

(2016-01-04, 17:24)wrxtasy Wrote: Finally after what is it at least a Year we get to see something from a VidOn GitHub.

Thanks for supplying the links Wolly.

Now where is the AMLogic XBMC / Kodi modified code you use for VidOn XBMC ?
You are modifying Kodi code plugging in whatever player you may be using internally. GPL Compliance is needed there.

I also ask please that you stop referring to your XBMC VidOn version as "Powered by Kodi".
I would say that is very close to a Kodi Trademark infringement right there.

Sorry, you are wrong, use "Based on Kodi" in the product is allowed by XBMC Foundation.
Here is the email record that XBMC Foundation replied to me.

Quote:I'd suggest, especially now that you guys have had some opportunity to associate your company with XBMC and Kodi, that you take the name change as an opportunity to fully embrace creating your own brand for the product. And in the description, note that your software is based on Kodi technology, which is still permitted under the trademark rules.

And it's not a GPL issue, please don't move to other topic. We are working with Kodi very close.

**hdmkv** · (This post was last modified: 2016-01-04, 17:35 by hdmkv.)

Thanks Wolly; wish you had shared all this information this ages ago. Here's to a fresh start for VidOn; also don't do the fake usernames again either as it totally backfires.

Re: Minix, do they have anything to share? They no longer offer VidOn directly, only mentioning "Added Vidon 3D patch (app is not included)"... I assume in their own firmware.

movie78 · 2016-01-04, 17:36

Does this release means that VIdOn 3D source code is going to added to Kodi?

**hdmkv** · 2016-01-04, 17:44

Is it confirmed VidOn's 3D support includes both full 3D MVC decoding and full 3D frame-packed rendering?

wrxtasy · (This post was last modified: 2016-01-04, 17:52 by wrxtasy.)

@Wolly, Thanks.

Ok thats fine if that is the case with the Trademark issue. At least everyone is now on the same page.

I'm still going to ask you again for this though:

Quote:Now where is the AMLogic Android XBMC / Kodi modified code you use for VidOn XBMC ?
You are modifying Kodi code plugging in whatever player you may be using internally into a Kodi version that is thinly wrapped up in a XBMC name only.
GPL Compliance is needed here as well

(2016-01-04, 17:34)hdmkv Wrote: Re: Minix, do they have anything to share? They no longer offer VidOn directly, only mentioning "Added Vidon 3D patch (app is not included)"... I assume in their own firmware.

It does not matter if they have anything to share or not, modifying XBMC / Kodi and distributing it (for Profit I might add on their devices) means GPL has to be complied with when asked.

The Linux code contained in AMLogic Kernels in devices from from MINIX and Tronsmart is also covered by a GPL Licence.
And I can almost be 100% guarantee there will be modified code from Codesnake in those Kernels running on their devices.

Sony pony up MINIX if you want to be a respected member of the Kodi community.

Wolly · 2016-01-04, 17:49

On the HiMedia Box, they need a wrapper to work with kodi, when you play a BD, you will be kicked out Kodi and an external player will be launched, the external player cannot remember the history, watched or unwatch, and the whole process is not soomth.
VidOn also uses the external player, but we put the player into the Kodi, make it looks and feels like the kodi native player, so I guess that makes some people think Vidon doesn't open all the source.

No matter Himedia or Vidon, we all used the private APIs to playback BD 3D and HD audio passthrough, the difference is that we tried to get more private APIs on different chipset so that VidOn XBMC can also run on those chipset, like Amlogic and RK.

What I said above has nothing to do with the GPL, because it's an external player, not a part of the native Kodi.

**hdmkv** · (This post was last modified: 2016-01-04, 17:55 by hdmkv.)

I recall Koying mentioning that none of the Android players were doing 3D natively, that an external player wrapper was being used, either simply like HiMedia Q5/Q10 or more elegantly (made to feel like internal) like Zidoo X6. But, Koying also mentioned (or maybe speculated) the 3D output was half-rez, not full all the way like RPi2 does. I'm again scratching my head because if all Android players are really all just using wrappers, are they all doing half-rez 3D output, only some, which?

Wolly · 2016-01-04, 17:55

So, Mr. wrxtasy, now you should know where is the modified code on Amlogic's XBMC.
In order to make Vidon XBMC works on Amlogic's chipset, they provided some private APIs to us, so we just need to call those APIs in our player, nothing more work with Kodi.

Wolly · 2016-01-04, 17:57

(2016-01-04, 17:54)hdmkv Wrote: I recall Koying mentioning that none of the Android players were doing 3D natively, that an external player wrapper was being used, either simply like HiMedia Q5/Q10 or more elegantly (made to feel like internal) like Zidoo X6. But, Koying also mentioned (or maybe speculated) the 3D output was half-rez, not full all the way like RPi2 does. I'm again scratching my head because if all Android players are really all just using wrappers, are they all doing half-rez 3D output, only some, which?

I will ask our developers what you mentioned above.

wrxtasy · 2016-01-04, 18:01

(2016-01-04, 17:55)Wolly Wrote: So, Mr. wrxtasy, now you should know where is the modified code on Amlogic's XBMC.
In order to make Vidon XBMC works on Amlogic's chipset, they provided some private APIs to us, so we just need to call those APIs in our player, nothing more work with Kodi.

You are modifying XBMC / Kodi code when you call these private API's, so must publish your work:

Read this again if you want legal clarity:

Quote: Does the GPL allow me to distribute a modified or beta version under a nondisclosure agreement?

No. The GPL says that your modified versions must carry all the freedoms stated in the GPL. Thus, anyone who receives a copy of your version from you has the right to redistribute copies (modified or not) of that version. You may not distribute any version of the work on a more restrictive basis.