Repackaging OSS Software
[NOTE] Since posting this article I’ve been informed that the company has discontinued this product and is developing thier own proprietary IM system. Because of this I’ve removed references to the company from this blog entry.
Here’s a two-bit internet advertising company who rips off the work of an Open Source project, claims it as their own, and adds advertisements to it. The site is a joke, here’s the best part.
We’ve even got a plan to make the Instant Messenger totally AD free, so just hang in with us, and in a few short months you’ll be a part of the making of the People’s Instant Messenger - “All-in-One for One and All!”
or you can just download GAIM for free 
October 19th, 2004 at 3:55 pm
Egads! It is the exact same software. According to the GNU GPL, which gaim is under, they must also provide the source code! I can’t find a license mention or sourcecode mention on the site at all. Also, according to the GPL, software created by modifying the original must also remain under the GPL.
When you pay, are you paying for just the software, or does support come with it?
October 19th, 2004 at 4:15 pm
Ben, I don’t think you pay, I think that they use it as a platform for their advertising.
So you download the fantastic IM client, and then you get ads with it…
PROFIT!!!
I should really download the software, and see if I can find a license.