InformAction Forums

Giorgio Maone wrote:What does the flashgot.version about:config entry look like after installing 1.1.9.5?
Is the FlashGot entry shown in Tools|Add-ons|Extensions? If so, does the Options button there work?

EDIT:
Also, does anybody here use an application called Sothink Web Video Downloader?
I've got one report of a similar conflict.

PROBLEM SOLVED !!!!
I had the Sothink Web Video Downloader installed, just removes it to restore Flashgot menu.
Firefox without Flashgot sucks !!!!
Many thanks Giorgio

FYI, I found the problem with Sothink and I'm quite mad at those idiots: they're illegally and brainlessly reusing the main components of FlashGot 1.1.9, without even renaming them.
Just compare their components/SWVDService.js file with FlashGot's components/flashgotService.js (identical to FG 1.1.9), or search for "flashgot" or even "maone" in their files.

Since FG 1.1.9.4 contains incompatible changes with the previous version, the two products collide and mine breaks (which is the brainless part).

I said "illegally" because FlashGot is open sourced under the GPL license, and this means that anybody incorporating code from FlashGot (which is otherwise freely reusable) must release their code/modifications under the GPL as well, which they're not doing.
Additionally they're damaging the original code users (and myself, since I've spend all this week answering to support questions from Sothink users).

I'd like to sue them into oblivion

Notify AMO, https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6541.

Workaround in FlashGot 1.1.9.6.:
v 1.1.9.6
=====================================================
x Work-around for "missing menu" problem caused by
Sothink Web Video Downloader's lame GPL violation

BTW, I believe you can do anything Sothink could using FlashGot Media and any FLV-compatible player, such as VLC.

Giorgio, have you contacted Sothink and filed a formal complaint/protest and ask them to immediately stop doing it?

Thank you Giorgio!!!

Installing v 1.1.9.6 fixed the problem.
Great to have such commitment from the developer himself.
Keep up the good work

Regards

This issue just hit slashdot...

So it seems, just wish there weren't so many ignorant views posted there. Its silly that a third or more try to justify it by saying its not stealing and rationalizing it, the other third are mocking it which condones the behavior (all you need for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing and I am not seeing any good people) and the remaining intelligent positions are just simply ignored. Its like a mob with pitchforks and little else, shame that there is actually so much stock put into such a poorly setup and moderated system. Sadly, this hurts the good by clouding their position with bull and helps the bad by creating just enough fodder to mitigate their fault. Truly sad and so much for the open source community policing itself.

It would be interesting to see what other code they have "borrowed" in "THEIR" work from other software developers !!!!
someone should check it out.

A topic on this subject with the link to the /. story, was created on the Sothink forum here, but was removed since by the admin:
http://www.sothinkmedia.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=18

On the new release log posted today and available here:
http://www.sothinkmedia.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1545

We can read the following:

Note: Sothink Web Video Downloader for Firefox software is licensed under The GNU General Public License.
Great news: The source code of Sothink Web Video Downloader for Firefox is open for our users!

So... if it wasn't released under gpl before, now this is fixed.

But I guess that it doesn't solve the conflict between FlashGot and their plugin... Maybe you should try to discuss with them...

I filed a complaint and they answered this morning pointing at the new 5.3 GPLed release.
The conflict is worked around by FlashGot 1.1.9.6 with an ugly hack, but I can keep it in place if needed.

See https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=499485#c4 and below for more details.

I believe that if anyone needs to do an ugly hack or fix the problem, it is THEM not you. The code is originally yours, it belongs to a legitimate application and their hijack and improper grab of it is causing the original program to break. The original program and its functionality supersedes any usage of the code, however GPL/GNU it might be, that breaks the original application. By breaking your functionality, they are sabotaging your application and dare I say going malware-esq however due to negligence and incompetence as that may be. This entitles you to specific performance to correct the problem and restore an damage done to your application. You are way too freakin nice to dance around their screwup. You do as you wish and I will support you no matter what, but I think you need take a harder stance on this.

I also find this information that sothink has opened its source.
http://twitter.com/SothinkMedia

This is still a "we got caught with out pants down doing something wrong so let's open our source to make it look like we are compliant". It still does not resolve or excuse prior bad acts and the fact that at the time they interfered with the functionality of another LEGITIMATE application by stealing its parts, they were not open. It's like someone killing and then when caught say, I won't do it anymore. Or a robber getting caught and saying, I won't rob anymore. Actions after the fact are irrelevant and do not excuse the original bad act.