faking darktable

gaaned92 · July 12, 2021, 10:50am

Maybe it is a W10 installation in S mode. So go out of S mode (no going back).
In settings>applications, you can define if you allow to download app outside MS store or not.
Perhaps in W11 MS store download will be enforced.

ariznaf · July 12, 2021, 11:04am

You are right, it is not easier, just about the same.

But some people only use what they have in front of their eyes, and MS promotes MS store, and installs it in every windows system.

It would be easier for that people to search for a developer in the MS store than searching it in the whole internet.

@chris is right that there are some legal obligations if you sell (even cheap) licenses, you have to be registered as an enterprise or asociation and have a VAT #… may be it does not pay the effort of making all that legal work.

As long as I know, if you give away the program for free in MS store, you don’t have to pay any fee or comission to MS.

ariznaf · July 12, 2021, 11:05am

I hope not, if so, I won’t install W11.

anon41087856 · July 12, 2021, 1:00pm

In case you are interested, I have the Eiffel Tower to sell too.

chaimav · July 12, 2021, 1:05pm

I’ll trade you for the Brooklyn Bridge

anon41087856 · July 12, 2021, 1:12pm

Only for $$$, it’s a valid offer, I don’t play Monopoly. Or do you question my honesty ?

Egocentrix · July 12, 2021, 1:53pm

Does this also mean that if I were to buy this (don’t have Windows, sadly, despite the covid vaccine), I can send all my darktable support requests to this Alef_soft person?

rvietor · July 12, 2021, 2:30pm

If you can get hold of him. It looks as even the name is grabbed from elsewhere

That said, afaik (but I’m not a lawyer…) selling GPL software is allowed by the license, if you are able to provide source code on request. That doesn’t mean that he can’t be targetted for use of trademarks or mis-representation. But again, for that you’ll have to be able to get hold of him

ariznaf · July 12, 2021, 4:26pm

Selling gpl software is OK (if the license let you do that) if you provide some kind of bonus (support, distribute it on a medium that is not available like CD…)
Red hat has done it for decades.

If this guy provides support and it provides a conveniente way for people (MS store) it may be licit.
But he should mention the original source (darktable team).

An official version in MS store would be good.

kofa · July 12, 2021, 4:50pm

Selling a GPL’d software is not illegal, per se: the licence is stated as GPL v3, and ‘Developed by’ shows ‘Darktable Collaborators’. That does not make it ethical.
I’m fine if someone does the packaging and requests a minimal monetary compensation for their effort and any fees related to publishing the app (such as any development tools or certification fees required for enlisting on the MS Store), but this should be clearly stated. However, I think it’d be ethical to donate some of the proceedings to the team. What is certainly legally inappropriate is using ‘Lightroom’ in the app’s title.
BTW, I’ve also reported a Gimp ‘discounted’ from $49.99 to the great low price of $4.09.

jorismak · July 12, 2021, 5:28pm

From what I remember, Apple is strict in allowing apps that offer functionality like the stock apps.

I don’t know the current situation (never used an ios device for more than 3 minutes. Not for a special reason, just nobody used them around me). But I think there is still a reason you will not find another browser engine on the app store after all this time.

lhutton · July 12, 2021, 6:56pm

I was talking the Mac App store, in theory someone could make a Mac binary of darktable, sign it and submit it fairly easily. For iOS there would need to be a whole rewrite and touch screen functionality added among other things. IIRC there may be some SSE/X64 optimizations that might not work well on ARM too.

AFAIK there’s no built in functionality to Mac OS or iOS that is similar to darktable. I think it’s likely just strict curation (someone at Apple is maybe more likely to catch the culprit is not the real darktable dev team) or their general rejection of GPL code in the App Stores. IANAL but I’m pretty sure the GPL is incompatible with Apple’s store terms. The NextCloud iOS App is GPL but they had to add this exception:

github.com

nextcloud/ios/blob/master/COPYING.iOS

The Nextcloud iOS developers are aware that the terms of service that
apply to apps distributed via Apple's App Store services may conflict
with rights granted under the Nextcloud iOS license, the GNU General
Public License, version 3 or (at your option) any later version. The
copyright holders of the Nextcloud iOS app do not wish this conflict
to prevent the otherwise-compliant distribution of derived apps via
the App Store. Therefore, we have committed not to pursue any license
violation that results solely from the conflict between the GNU GPLv3
or any later version and the Apple App Store terms of service. In
other words, as long as you comply with the GPL in all other respects,
including its requirements to provide users with source code and the
text of the license, we will not object to your distribution of the
Nextcloud iOS app through the App Store.

betazoid · July 12, 2021, 8:19pm

This looks legal. The guy states that DarkTable LightRoom is based on darktable. So he has modified something.
Has someone tested this software?
It’s a old version anyway.
Fwiw, I think this is somehow funny…

Dave22152 · July 12, 2021, 8:23pm

Definitely a case of Caveat Emptor. However, I’d be a little concern over blowback if paying customers were to mistake this private enterprise with the actual developers.

David_Prescott · July 12, 2021, 8:48pm

i’m a dual booter but never use the windows MS store (ok i think skype is only available from there now…)

David_Prescott · July 12, 2021, 8:50pm

which windows versions?

jorismak · July 12, 2021, 8:55pm

Oh that makes more sense, I was in iOS world with my head. Never mind what I said :s.

Ar_D · July 13, 2021, 1:10am

True, MS store is very laggy and unresponsive on my PC, And installing a 6GB game just takes 15 to 20 GB of my C drive, then I manually need to shift it in other drives. I don’t know if this is because of too much power on my CPU or the unstable update.

st.raw · July 13, 2021, 6:45am

…or anybody that has support for open source imagery on their mind rather than profit only. I have no idea if there is a cost involved listing on the MS Store, or what the legal issues are. So at this point I don’t even know if that seller makes money there. Would be interesting to see the sale figures though.

There are maybe ways to opt out, but there are probably many that prefer that type of safety. Really no issue for somebody that is very computer literate, but not everybody is. Look at how many get ransom-ware attacks and stuff like that.

wpferguson · July 13, 2021, 5:00pm

Code signing for windows 10 involves buying a code signing certificate, plus jumping through some hoops. Code signing certificates cost ~ $100US +. To sell on MS store you have to sign up for the partner program (there’s a free level) and obligate yourself (i.e. agree to a bunch of stuff that you probably don’t really want to agree to so they can spam you ).