3 ms·

I just realized the company I work for uses openalpr violating it's license. What should I do?

by Walkman 11y ago

godzillabrennus 11y ago
Find another job. Then consult with a lawyer to see what risk you have if report them to the developer of that software whose copyright is being abused.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
detaro 11y ago
Don't post about it with an account that is linked to your "real" identity is a good first step. Details depend on your local laws, but generally there isn't much you can do outside of bringing it up with someone responsible at your company without risking legal trouble with them.
egroat 11y ago
agpl-3.0 This may provide more clarity: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1960802/can-i-use-libraries-licensed-under-agpl-for-commercial-purposes http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1960802/can-i-use-librari... Essentially - if you have modified openalpr then you are probably violating, if you haven't you probably aren't. Unless you are a small company with a business model tied tightly around using a modified openalpr to generate revenue then there is plenty of scope for complying with the license without damaging the business. If you are then the company is stealing and I would advise leaving. Either way you are under a moral, and potentially legal, obligation to bring the company towards compliance. Advice for you is not to massively rock the boat - do not use it as a means to hurt your employer (even after leaving) do not focus too much on it. IANAL; The way I would approach this: - forward the this news article (not the hacker news post) and the openalpr license page http://www.openalpr.com/license.html http://www.openalpr.com/license.html to your legal contact (and manager?). Attach a simple and professional message along the lines of "Saw an article about some software we use and I am concerned we may be accidentally violating the license" - Do not act like you really care. You were just exercising due diligence in your job and forwarding on to people that deal with it. Don't rock the boat, don't defend yourself, don't threaten. - Do care. If your company does not respond to you within a few weeks, threatens you in any way (interrogation), or says they are deliberately ignoring the license then you need to work on getting a new job. This is because your employers act exploitatively and without respect to the work of others (such as yourself). When you come into legal dispute (which happens more often with these kinds) they are not the ones you want to be fighting. So find another job (take your time) and leave, do not cite the license as a reason. Once you are safe notify the developers. If you are careful, not disruptive, and don't use it to create gossip or push other agendas most employers will engage legal advice and work towards resolution thanking you in the process (its way better than being sued!) and you need not suddenly leave your job over an honest mistake.

I just realized the company I work for uses openalpr violating it's license. What should I do?

by Walkman 11y ago

I just realized the company I work for uses openalpr violating it's license. What should I do?

Find another job. Then consult with a lawyer to see what risk you have if report them to the developer of that software whose copyright is being abused.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

detaro 11y ago

Don't post about it with an account that is linked to your "real" identity is a good first step. Details depend on your local laws, but generally there isn't much you can do outside of bringing it up with someone responsible at your company without risking legal trouble with them.

egroat 11y ago

agpl-3.0 This may provide more clarity: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1960802/can-i-use-libraries-licensed-under-agpl-for-commercial-purposes http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1960802/can-i-use-librari... Essentially - if you have modified openalpr then you are probably violating, if you haven't you probably aren't. Unless you are a small company with a business model tied tightly around using a modified openalpr to generate revenue then there is plenty of scope for complying with the license without damaging the business. If you are then the company is stealing and I would advise leaving. Either way you are under a moral, and potentially legal, obligation to bring the company towards compliance. Advice for you is not to massively rock the boat - do not use it as a means to hurt your employer (even after leaving) do not focus too much on it. IANAL; The way I would approach this: - forward the this news article (not the hacker news post) and the openalpr license page http://www.openalpr.com/license.html http://www.openalpr.com/license.html to your legal contact (and manager?). Attach a simple and professional message along the lines of "Saw an article about some software we use and I am concerned we may be accidentally violating the license" - Do not act like you really care. You were just exercising due diligence in your job and forwarding on to people that deal with it. Don't rock the boat, don't defend yourself, don't threaten. - Do care. If your company does not respond to you within a few weeks, threatens you in any way (interrogation), or says they are deliberately ignoring the license then you need to work on getting a new job. This is because your employers act exploitatively and without respect to the work of others (such as yourself). When you come into legal dispute (which happens more often with these kinds) they are not the ones you want to be fighting. So find another job (take your time) and leave, do not cite the license as a reason. Once you are safe notify the developers. If you are careful, not disruptive, and don't use it to create gossip or push other agendas most employers will engage legal advice and work towards resolution thanking you in the process (its way better than being sued!) and you need not suddenly leave your job over an honest mistake.