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Jagex is violating the GPL Thread is locked

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Hmm
Jan Member 2016

Hmm

Posts: 13,000 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Dearest Jagex,

You are currently distributing the Java Virtual Machine (Explicitly, OpenJDK 7) from Oracle without providing the source code. This is in violation of international copyright law, so please reinstate it at your earliest convenience. Failure to do so with a reasonable time is a crime.

Section 3.B does not apply in this scenario, however if section 3.B was intended to apply, then please consider this a valid request for source access.

Thanks for your attention to this matter.

24-May-2021 09:57:26 - Last edited on 24-May-2021 13:38:06 by Hmm

2_Tron

2_Tron

Posts: 22,959 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Why is 'not giving away your source code' a crime?

Do you give away your house keys to any burglar so they can go shopping in your house at any given time?

I fail to discover the crime you are talking about. :)

24-May-2021 12:18:29

Hmm
Jan Member 2016

Hmm

Posts: 13,000 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Java (explicitly, OpenJDK) is licensed GPL, and hence under a legal contract that binds Jagex to release their modifications they've made to it, modifications that their EULA states have been made (and were visible historically). This isn't comparable to burglary at all because there's a literal contract that says anybody who downloads OSRS is entitled to the source code of the Java version they bundle it with.

Using software against the license terms is a crime colloqially known as piracy. Jagex isn't yet guilty of this because the GPL gives a nice leeway for them to correct their mistakes, but they absolutely are legally required to correct their mistakes and after this leeway expires can be prosecuted by both Oracle as the license holder and the state.

And I think any developer here will tell you you don't wanna be on the wrong side of Oracle when it comes to Java.

Read the premable in the GPL section of the EULA itself.

Original message details are unavailable.

To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid anyone to deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender the rights. These restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute copies of the software, or if you modify it.

For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that you have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. And you must show them these terms so they know their rights.

We protect your rights with two steps: (1) copyright the software, and (2) offer you this license which gives you legal permission to copy, distribute and/or modify the software.

24-May-2021 13:14:03 - Last edited on 24-May-2021 13:21:49 by Hmm

Hmm
Jan Member 2016

Hmm

Posts: 13,000 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
This is the designated place for feedback on the website. Jagex used to provide the source code to their Java distributions on the website. http://runescape.com/downloads/jagexlauncher-src.tar.bz2 used to be one of them and it now 404's.

I shouldn't have to make a legal request because as I said above, section 3B doesn't apply. Jagex have not given a written notice that they'll provide it upon request, so there should absolutely be somewhere publically available to get this source code, and the webteam would be the ones who physically put it there.

Here's an example of when they were compliant (Though it's for RS3 on this screenshot).

OSRS needs something similar.

I'd also appreciate if Jagex didn't blacklist the entire website from The Wayback Machine and complicate identifying exactly when changes happen.

24-May-2021 14:51:23 - Last edited on 24-May-2021 15:10:13 by Hmm

Archaeox
Dec Member 2011

Archaeox

Posts: 53,399 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
FYI:

Jagex Staff are not empowered or entitled to answer legal questions on the forum, and are in fact prohibited from doing so.

Any legal question therefore needs to be raised through direct contact with their legal staff.
~~~~ Just another victim of the ambient morality ~~~~

~~ Founder of the Caped Carousers quest cape clan ~~

!! Slava Ukraini - heroyam slava !!

24-May-2021 20:50:28

Hmm
Jan Member 2016

Hmm

Posts: 13,000 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
This isn't a legal question. Their legal requirements are absolutely clear. I am assuming that this is something that has been neglected in the website design rather than maliciousness from the legal team. There's a screenshot above that shows that Jagex is clearly aware of its GPL obligations because it's historically fullfilled them.

There is a legal team I can actually get in touch with, and it isn't Jagex's who make themselves unavailable. It's Oracle's, but I'll give Jagex benefit of the doubt first.

I've been trying to get in touch with Jagex's legal team for other license issues for months. You don't get in touch with them, they get in touch with you.

24-May-2021 21:00:09 - Last edited on 24-May-2021 21:05:07 by Hmm

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