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I wrote a small app to display a bitrate graph of video files, and posted the code on GitHub with the GPL2 license. A few weeks later someone uploaded it to the

I wrote a small app to display a bitrate graph of video files, and posted the code on GitHub with the GPL2 license. A few weeks later someone uploaded it to the Mac App Store and sold it for 7$, the only difference was the name.

phkahler 1y ago
If they're not complying with your license terms, sue them. If they are then I guess you missed the boat on money.
- 01HNNWZ0MV43FF 1y ago
  Taking that all the way to court would be like $10,000, right? Big companies will sue. For individuals it's a barrier to entry
  - kstrauser 1y ago
    Yeah, that sounds like more hassle than it’s worth. It should be free to file a DMCA claim with Apple, though, and get it yanked from the App Store.
    - duskwuff 1y ago
      +1. You can put together a DMCA claim in... maybe five minutes? It's extremely straightforward and doesn't require you to do anything beyond identify the infringing work, identify what work of yours it infringes upon, and affirm that it's not authorized. Here's a template: https://library.georgetown.edu/copyright/dmca-takedown https://library.georgetown.edu/copyright/dmca-takedown
    - galad87 1y ago
      I got it removed from the App Store. The first time, then after some months the same developer republished it with a few changes under a different name… I don't have the time to track it down again, I just published my app on the App Store for free so at least people won't give in and avoid the scam.
  - bombcar 1y ago
    You can cause a decent amount of kerfuffle pro se if you have time and no money.
  - astrange 1y ago
    Small claims is cheaper than that and the other side often isn't allowed to use lawyers.
  - phkahler 1y ago
    Well you should be able to sue them for the profits they made selling your app. If it's "only $10,000" and not worth it then OK, but what if they're making 10x or more that amount?
3-cheese-sundae 1y ago
That stings, but how many purchases do you think it's getting?
HeyLaughingBoy 1y ago
Did they at least attribute you?
- galad87 1y ago
  No.
bapak 1y ago
This is extremely common. As far as I know any open source app that is remotely interesting will be downloaded, renamed and republished. And this is why a lot of such apps are no longer open source. One example is Sinder Sorhus, which has thousands of open source npm packages but zero open source iOS apps, even the free ones are closed source.
- moulick 1y ago
  Sinder Sorhus is god damn amazing for the amount of high quality stuff they make

phkahler 1y ago

If they're not complying with your license terms, sue them. If they are then I guess you missed the boat on money.

01HNNWZ0MV43FF 1y ago
Taking that all the way to court would be like $10,000, right? Big companies will sue. For individuals it's a barrier to entry
- kstrauser 1y ago
  Yeah, that sounds like more hassle than it’s worth. It should be free to file a DMCA claim with Apple, though, and get it yanked from the App Store.
  - duskwuff 1y ago
    +1. You can put together a DMCA claim in... maybe five minutes? It's extremely straightforward and doesn't require you to do anything beyond identify the infringing work, identify what work of yours it infringes upon, and affirm that it's not authorized. Here's a template: https://library.georgetown.edu/copyright/dmca-takedown https://library.georgetown.edu/copyright/dmca-takedown
  - galad87 1y ago
    I got it removed from the App Store. The first time, then after some months the same developer republished it with a few changes under a different name… I don't have the time to track it down again, I just published my app on the App Store for free so at least people won't give in and avoid the scam.
- bombcar 1y ago
  You can cause a decent amount of kerfuffle pro se if you have time and no money.
- astrange 1y ago
  Small claims is cheaper than that and the other side often isn't allowed to use lawyers.
- phkahler 1y ago
  Well you should be able to sue them for the profits they made selling your app. If it's "only $10,000" and not worth it then OK, but what if they're making 10x or more that amount?

3-cheese-sundae 1y ago

That stings, but how many purchases do you think it's getting?

HeyLaughingBoy 1y ago

Did they at least attribute you?

galad87 1y ago
No.

bapak 1y ago

This is extremely common. As far as I know any open source app that is remotely interesting will be downloaded, renamed and republished. And this is why a lot of such apps are no longer open source. One example is Sinder Sorhus, which has thousands of open source npm packages but zero open source iOS apps, even the free ones are closed source.

moulick 1y ago
Sinder Sorhus is god damn amazing for the amount of high quality stuff they make