Why do people use Open-source software and remove the backlink?
I am a great fan of opensource software and have enormous respect for people who write these things. One I am particularly interested in is PhPLinkDirectory.com They have a link directory script there that is excellent, I use it and think its fantastic and the support given by the people in the background is second to none. My moan though is with the growing number of people who take the script and use it as thier own, then have the cheek to take the backlink down. The least we can do if we are to use opensource software is to show gratitude and it really annoys me when this happens.
The excuse people use are so feable, like, I would love to donate but I don’t have any way of paying you, nor do I have credit cards? So how do they get to host the script they just ‘borrowed’? How do they pay for thier hosts? Do they pay by beerchecks? Get out of here lamers, you are the lowest of the low. If you are prepared to take the script of someone you should have respect and leave the backlink there. And if you don’t then how dare you ask for support! I really feel like naming and shaming all the abusers of opensource software and you never know I might even use phplinkdirectory as the script!
I’ll leave the backlink there though!
Thought I’d have my say!
March 1st, 2006 at 6:53 pm
One of the reasons people take down the backlink to the software developer is because the want to show us what incredible homepage they have, what good coders and designers they are, actually they want to make us think everything is top class there and they have written all software and the design and so on. Some of them think the developer will never see the missing link, some of them think the business will not work as well if users see credits to someone else.
I think this people are just rude and don’t have a very little bit of respect for the time and money invested for that software they are actually using for free, and maybe also make nice money. But if I would see a homepage that has removed the link back or has cheaten in any other way, I will definetly not use their service.
March 4th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Agreed
noobs without attitude methinks hehehe! Seriously, I think that people who do use open-source software should at the very least have the decency to give credit where credit is due.
Nice job on the skin too
March 9th, 2006 at 9:34 am
Isn’t there a payment option that allows you to legitimately remove the link? I think it’s going to cost $75 in the new version. I’m probably getting the $25 version, though, as I don’t mind linking back to them.
March 9th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
Yes, in the particular case of phplinkdirectory there is a version that can be paid for and the option to take the link away is there, I was not getting at that. What I was making a point about was the fact that there are far too many people prepared to take opensource software and then use it solely for thier own purpose and not give credit where credit is due.. I happen to agree with you on the method you chose as this allows for both a donation to the user and also giving a link back which is highly respectable of you.
Lets get this topic kicking as I think its about time people knew of this abuse, it makes life hard for people like us who are prepared to help don’t you think?
Kev
March 23rd, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Removing the Link Back from a template / skin or any piece of coding which has been coded by a third party in an attempt to gain mor back links to thier website really does get my goat. Hours and Hours of work go into these free pieces of software and lets face facts if we all had to purchase every bit of code going the internet would be a hell of a smaller place. I have looked into setting up a database which people have to register a url for which a piece of code / template will be used and once a month the server side software goes out and checks for its link backs and highlights everyone which is listed within the database that does not have a link back on the page / site the registered with.
Obviously this leads to other problems with the templates / code you supply can only be distributed from one source which requires some sort of registration of the individual who wishes to use the code and does stop that individual then sending the said code to his/her mate who isnt listed in the database who could remove the link back without any problems at all.
My other idea is to encode some of the the code so that the user cannot edit it freely, but if they know what they are doing they could probably rewrite the code and remove the link if required.
In Conclusion I feel the users will continue abusing the free scripts out there and ultimatly spoil it for everyone once the free scripters out there start charging for all thier hard work. If you have an alternative to protecting your code please post it here I would love to know about it. I read this blog regularly.
Thanks for Reading.
Big G
March 23rd, 2006 at 4:30 pm
One possible way is to check the sites for a backlink and if not then restrict forum access, which basically means they are on their own. It doesn’t prevent the action but it does make it difficult if they need support.
Minute
April 6th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
One reason is because the site-wide link is worth a lot of money, and is an unreasonable request in many cases. Would you pay $300/month to use phplinkdirectory? Should you have to? That is what a site wide link goes for on one of my sites. I’ll pay $75 once and save $225/month.
Another reason is that the costs of using open source are very high. Once you put in a hundred hours customizing and debugging, and donate your efforts back to the community, does that sitewide link still belong to the original author?
Take the benefits from all those who provide the sitewide backlink and leave it at that. Griping about it just raises awareness and for what good?
April 6th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
You saying that a link at the bottom of your page footer is $300/month? Tell your sites man I need learning. If opensource s/ware is worth that much and phplinkdirectory is saving that much with all the backlinks and all why they charge so much for it? No way would I pay $300/month for any script and doubt neither would you but its not about that its about people removing a link for a free version that this blog is right?
I saw http://web.archive.org/web/20050203025916/http://www.phplinkdirectory.com/index.html and saw they asked just $25 to remove and this is sure to be a fair question as to why the raise in price? I’m confused at a thing or two you say though? Is it what your saying that because you put in a hundred hours customizing and debugging the script becomes yours or that you earn the right to remove the sitewide link? If thats what you say I agree as the first people who wrote this script aint in your class. If they were these bugs would not be there.
[Take the benefits from all those who provide the sitewide backlink and leave it at that.] You mean the opposite to that right? For griping, that aint for you or me or anyone to tell, we are all open to opinion period. You seem real smart but miss the obvious that raising awareness is publicity and any of that is good? I looked at Alexa and there aint no way that it got that high rating out of visitors it is for the truckload of complaints and questions on bug fixes and stuff.
Opensource is for a reason it said on http://www.opensource.org [The basic idea behind open source is very simple: When programmers can read, redistribute, and modify the source code for a piece of software, the software evolves. People improve it, people adapt it, people fix bugs. And this can happen at a speed that, if one is used to the slow pace of conventional software development, seems astonishing.] There aint no mention of paying for anything on there and no mention of sitewide link, least I couldn’t see one.
I think the reason why people remove the link is for being mean but looking at this more makes me think that wanting payment and help to fix bugs like you do is no way right.
April 6th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
Expletives had to be removed from this blog, “PLEASE DO NOT USE FOUL LANGUAGE” You are all entitled to your comments and we encourage them, however this blog is related to a Family safe search directory and is not a platform for anger release. We reserve the right to delete all comments we feel are either offensive, libelous and or inflamitory. We do however snapshot all and will provide such on lawful request.
The Team