More license violation news, ORD solutions (currently running their second kickstarter) is using Marlin without releasing source, in violation of the GPL. They’re apparently working on a rewrite to get around releasing source. Good luck with that.
https://github.com/ErikZalm/Marlin/issues/980
I really don’t understand what the problem is with these people.
Posted to their Kickstarter page alerting backers to the issue.
@Daniel_Wood maximising profit aka the dollar signs in their eyes
I doubt anyone would make good use of their marlin hacks anyway! Re-writing seems like an aweful lot of effort to go to when they could just release it.
Perhaps they just dont want the public to see how crappy their code is!
Companies can be so stupid… who do they think people come to when deciding on which printer to buy…
Edit - I guess I take that back 
Looks like they will comply and everyone can calm down now, see: https://ordsolutions.freshdesk.com/support/discussions/topics/1000028174
Quite interesting that they made no effort to comply for a month, then cane out and said they wouldn’t be releasing the source (3 hours ago, post by Richard which has since been deleted), then decided to release the source after they got called out on their Kickstarter page.
When I get home tonight I will post the latest released version of our firmware onto our Support Portal. I apologize for the messages that have been sent out on behalf of ORD Solutions, and I have taken steps to ensure that this is not repeated. We will fully comply with the GPL license now and in the future.
Open source wins! I wish all of our battles could be that easy.
This is Jenn from ORD Solutions.
Our Founder, Chris Gibson is an experienced software engineer of over 15 years, and has written very complex software for a living for many companies. He wanted to integrate that into ORD Solutions and our printers. We however value our customers and the Maker community - and we apologize for causing such an uproar.
Please see below part of the response to Tim Elore’s post on our Kickstarter.
“I have been motivated from the start by the idea that we would modify the firmware for our customers as they required it. It was an extra service we wanted to give to them. We understand that most people are not both electronic engineers and software developers. However, it appears that some of our customers are. I can see now that they won’t have an issue supporting their own firmware changes and that actually takes some work off our shoulders, which is excellent because we are swamped! At the same time maybe the work I’ve done will also help others in there own open source in-devours.” - Chris Gibson
Please don’t count us out! Our printer is AWESOME and we would love to have your support.
Jenn
ORD Solutions
Marketing & Promotions Manager
marketing@ordsolutions.com
http://www.ordsolutions.com
Interesting. When I read Ord Marketing’s comment what I saw was:
“Our founder has 15+ yrs of experience and should have known better than to try to dodge the GPL. Sorry we got caught. Don’t hate us for trying to shaft you!”
I’ll put them back on the option-to-buy shelf when they’ve fixed the errors and consistently proven themselves to be Open Source supporters.
I am sure we will impress you eventually
They are not the only company that does this. In the pirate 3d blog I saw that they also use Marlin. I asked for the source. They answered with use google.
There are probably much more "close source " printers that use open source software.
The problem is that it is difficult to check.
I saw this link and I really thought I ought to comment on this because I think that some people are unnecessarily painting ORD in a bad light. I happen to have an ORD printer in my home, one of the early kick-starter printers from their first kick-starter. Here is my experience:
I got my printer setup and working, it wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but definitely easier than I thought it would be. After a few weeks of use I tried printing ABS with some settings that through some bug, blew my bed heater. ORD was notified, they released a notice to all customers to not print in the way that I did until they fixed the bug. I think it was the next day a Firmware release was made available that fixed the problem. I also received a new bed heater promptly free of charge.
ORD is constantly updating the firmware, and the best part is if the firmware has an issue they fix it for you. I realize that adding your own features and modifications would be a desirable trait for some, in my opinion the printer is just so great I don’t need to modify it. Every possible way I could think of to make it better is already being implemented in the new RoVa3D. Including the ability to control the cooling system electronically.
Whether it was illegal or not to lock the firmware I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. And being “an experienced software engineer of over 15 years” doesn’t make you a lawyer either. Having had interactions with ORD solutions team members, I can tell you that these are really stand-up people, and I’m sure if they knew it was illegal to not release the source, they would have released it.
@James_Strang That’s great for their customers, but they’re using open source tools that other people spent their own time developing. Those developers did not get paid. Their only expectation was that those who use what they built and find ways to improve it would contribute those changes back under the same license terms so that everyone can benefit from them. We know that ORD has made such changes, because the mainline Marlin doesn’t have support for 5 extruders.
Open source software is free, but not necessarily without expectations of those who use it. When someone uses an open source project in violation of the open source license, it’s the same as (worse than, IMHO) using commercial software without paying for it. If they were selling PCs with a copy of Windows on them and they weren’t paying anything to Microsoft, even if their customers were completely satisfied, can you guess how Microsoft would respond? Would Microsoft be “unnecessarily painting [them] in a bad light” if they sued?
I don’t buy for a second that someone writing software for 15 years doesn’t know what GPL is. @James_Strang , you don’t have to be a lawyer, its clear as day in the GPLv3 text:
“For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether gratis or for a fee, you must pass on to the recipients the same freedoms that you received. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. And you must show them these terms so they know their rights.”
As well as the Readme.md page for Marlin:
“Marlin has a GPL license because I believe in open development. Please do not use this code in products (3D printers, CNC etc) that are closed source or are crippled by a patent.”
That’s great you’ve found a printer that works well. There are dozens of printers that work well. Most don’t violate open source licenses. Support companies that honor the licenses for which their products are built on.
@Tim_Elmore I think that was the point of the comment. He did know about the GPL and should have known better than to violate it.
Why would they want to keep their firmware changes private? It doesn’t seem like a competitive advantage and would increase their support costs.
@Tim_Elmore I’ve met many 15+ years of experience with zero clue on licensing. Most of these are older people from “before the internet”, and are a bit confused by the fact that they can suddenly find all kinds of source-code online, for “free”.
Also, it would be nice if people could respond in a civilized way on these things. Usually it’s a misunderstanding and people are willing to fix it. Just give them a bit of time.
While common knowledge for you, you suddenly introduce a new concept for them. Can take a bit of time for them to figure out what they did wrong.
I think more damage is done by OSS-Zealots that start to shout “Release now! GO GO GO you horrible people!” then by companies not directly grasping what they have done and need to do to fix it.
As the Zeolot will create a hostile environment, where the company people do not feel comfortable and do not want to be part off.
So, just give them some time, and if they do not respond in time, or respond with a “fuck you”, then we’ll see if we need to take legal action.
@Daid_Braam
Sorry, not buying that. Copyright is not rocket science, if you are not sure what you are copying, then don’t copy it! The license conditions are plain as day, not hidden somewhere.
Usually, what happens is that people are hoping to get some free stuff and not get caught. These people know what they are doing and often only respond properly when legal situation is made clear. Companies are usually first to threaten legal action if anyone threatens their copyright or doesn’t follow T&Cs.
Sadly it is only continued vigilance and firm action that will keep these greedy capitalists operating fairly. I think they would find it very convenient if only “polite complaints” were made, they can ignore those all day, as happened here.
If the greedy capitalists are scared off from using OSS, then it probably makes no difference as they didn’t intend to be honest players anyway. There are thousands of companies out there who have managed to read the license and also contribute properly to OSS.
Hello Everyone,
Chris wasn’t finished working until early this morning, and as soon as he got home he posted it to the Support Portal - under Solutions.
https://ordsolutions.freshdesk.com/solution/categories/1000054956/folders/1000086320/articles/1000030484-installing-the-software-for-your-mh3000
I would have posted it with my earlier comment but it wasn’t available to me until now
Jenn
ORD Solutions