Hi,

today I have read that Tourweaver from Easypano is now also supporting Bing Maps:
http://easypano.com/forum/display_topic_…&PagePosition=1

I was a bit surprised that they got it that fast (not typically I would say ) because there were some special things to be respected when using Bing Maps with OpenScales. Especially the coordinate and zoom translating to be compatible with Google Maps was not an easy part.

So I have downloaded their version and looked into their swf by using the Sothink SWF Decompiler...

...AND THAN I WAS SHOCKED:

More than 99% of the Bing/OpenScales related code was directly stolen/copied from the krpano Bing Maps Plugin!!!!

Even the simple code and the graphics for the controls, which were plain simple and every Flash developer normally should be able to do himself was copied!


Here a code comparison - a small part of original krpano Bing Maps Plugin code:


And here the copy from Easypano:



Why is that part special?

The OpenScales API that was used in the krpano Bing Maps Plugin uses internally 'Resolutions' as format for the map zoom and the Goolge Maps API directly the zoom levels as number itself. So to be compatible to the Google Maps API it is necessary to convert the Google Maps zoom level to the OpenScales 'Resolution'.

In the Bing.as file from the OpenScales sources there is a mapping table for that. It is a row of values with these numbers (shortened here for display): 156543, 78271, 39135, 19567, 4891, 2445, 1222, 611, 305, 152, 76, 38, 19, 9, 4.7, 2.38, 1.19, 0.59, 0.29, 0.14, 0.07

This are the resolution values for 22 zoom levels, but in the krpano Bing Maps Plugin I wanted to be able to interpolate between zoom levels and also go/zoom beyond level 22, so the values between these steps and above were necessary. So I have analyzed that row of values and found this formula for calculating the resolution directly from any zoom level: resolution = 10^((22 - 4,74380021493083 - zoomlevel)*LOG(4)/2) .

Finding that formula was not that easy and I was pretty sure that no one other would be that detailed and do this (every 'normal' coder would use the given mapping array) - so this was the first that I was looking for and was very surprised to see the same code also in the Easypano code. But then was looking further - also all the other code is almost identically, even the function and classes have still their original names!!!

I have extracted here some decompiled code lines from both plugins for comparisons (99% identically) - fell free to download and compare yourself:
http://krpano.com/temp/easypano/bingmaps_original.as
http://krpano.com/temp/easypano/bingmaps_stolen.as

Everyone with a Flash decompiler tool can do the same by opening and comparing the krpano bingmaps.swf and the Easypano TWViewerp_b.swf files.

...

That's absolutely not okay from Easypano!
I have worked very hard for that code and they have just simply copied it!

What to do with such company in such case?!
Any tips or experiences?

Best regards,
Klaus

Hi,

Zitat von »olihar«

I wonder if this is the case for this part of your package that there are other things that they have stolen in the past.

I will search also for other stuff of course but I doubt that I will find any code from the krpano core - this is part of krpano is a protected (basically as license protection and not to hide the source) and not that easy to copy like a plugin.

The plugins itself are unprotected because I have no big problem when someone is privately looking at the sources to understand how krpano is working or as inspiration for own plugins.

Zitat von »bradtem«

The bad news is that my first tip is "try to resolve it privately." Which means, alas, not making a public stink about it at first. Later, if you have to make a public stink you could say, "we tried to resolve it privately, but..."

I was just shocked when I saw that! I really couldn't believe that they had done that!

Zitat von »Tuur«

Sent them the bill, and also spread the word.
Maybe there are legal options by EU?

Zitat von »jeromebg«

Maybe you could create a petition to ask them to remoove this plugin or buy the source code ?

Zitat von »bradtem«

You've limited their options. You want them to do the right thing but they need a way to save face, and the more they can save face, the more they will give you in private.

I think my main intention is that they should remove all the code that they have copied from me immediately and never do that again, maybe with an official statement or so! I just don't want that they use my code and work, not even for money!

Best regards,
Klaus

Zitat von »Zephyr«

I hope this doesn't affect your motivation in continueing your work/hobby

of course not
krpano is my full-time work, not just a hobby and I'm still as motivated as ever!

best regards,
Klaus