Can we liberate OSVR?

[Jacob Hrbek <kreyren@rixotstudio.cz>]

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Open-Source Virtual Reality ("OSVR") is a project working on an open
standard, software and hardware for Virtual Reality, see
https://redirect.invidious.io/watch?v=OdZ9fKw_DGw for their promotion video.

In terms of Hardware OSVR already produced a working VR headset OSVR-HDK
<https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK> which license is incompatible with
GPLv3[email forward from licensing@fsf.org] this discussion is about
investigating the reasons for this decision and what we can do to
liberate it.

I believe that through liberating it the project can substentially
increase it's networth while giving us a strong platform for VR which
can be utilized in Free Hardware Designs projects such as relativty
<https://github.com/relativty/Relativty> to ensure cross-platform
compatibility and functionality thus this discussion should be about why
they made the decision for non-free and what can be done about it.

#1 Economical cost

OSVR project partnered with Razer to produ
ce the OSVR-HDK development
kit for 199 USD so they are most likely in a net-loss.

To work with somewhat realistic figure i estimated that the production
cost loss should be at around 20K EUR/USD minimum so lets work with this
figure.

Q: What can we do on an GPLv3-compatible model to offset this economical
loss?
Q: How can we prove to OSVR and Razer that Free Software, Free Hardware
Designs and Free Firmware are more economical?

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	[gnu.org #1799743] Re: Is OSVR compatible with GPLv3 ?
Date: 	Thu, 20 Jan 2022 09:36:03 -0500
From: 	Yoni Rabkin via RT <licensing@fsf.org>
Reply-To: 	licensing@fsf.org
To: 	kreyren@rixotstudio.cz




Hello and thank you for writing in.

> Is this license compatible with GPLv3?
> https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK/blob/master/LICENSE.md

License review is a lengthy process which often involves legal counsel,
so I cannot provide you with an official review of the OSVR license.

How
ever, a cursory look at the terms of the license indicate to me that
it is not even a free software license, and therefore like any other
proprietary license would surely be incompatible with any version of the
GPL.

For instance, section j.3 states that:

"You agree and acknowledge that the MDK, Modules or Module Interface
Technology available on the OSVR Project are solely for the purposes of
the OSVR Project and Your personal use. Except as permitted in this
Clause, you may not use, sell or distribute the MDK, Modules or Module
Interface Technology nor the IPR contained therein for any purposes
whatsoever, whether for commercial gain or otherwise. Any attempts to do
so will automatically terminate this License."

This section alone would make this a proprietary license which merely
grants you a kind of limited permission to work on OSVR projects. There
may be other reasons this license would be non-free and
GPL-incompatible.

With the caveats above, I hope this i
s of help.

--
I am not a lawyer, the above is not legal advice

Regards, Yoni Rabkin

The services of the GPL Compliance Lab are made possible by
donations from people like you. Please consider supporting us
today by becoming a member [https://my.fsf.org/join] or by making
a donation [https://www.fsf.org/donate].



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   Open-Source Virtual Reality ("OSVR") is a project working on an open
   standard, software and hardware for Virtual Reality, see
   [1]https://redirect.invidious.io/watch?v=OdZ9fKw_DGw for their
   promotion video.
   In terms of Hardware OSVR already produced a working VR headset
   OSVR-HDK [2]<https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK> which license is
   incompatible with GPLv3[email forward from [3]licensing@fsf.org] this
   discussion is about investigating the reasons for this decision and
   what we can do to liberate it.
   I believe that through liberating it the project can substentially
   increase it's networth while giving us a strong platform for VR which
   can be utilized in Free Hardware Designs projects such as relativty
   [4]<https://github.com/relativty/Relativty> to ensure cross-platform
   compatibility and functionality thus this discussion should be about
   why they made the decision for non-free and what can be done about it.
   #1 Economical cost
   OSVR project partnered with Razer to produce the OSVR-HDK development
   kit for 199 USD so they are most likely in a net-loss.
   To work with somewhat realistic figure i estimated that the production
   cost loss should be at around 20K EUR/USD minimum so lets work with
   this figure.
   Q: What can we do on an GPLv3-compatible model to offset this
   economical loss?
   Q: How can we prove to OSVR and Razer that Free Software, Free Hardware
   Designs and Free Firmware are more economical?

   -------- Forwarded Message --------
     Subject: [gnu.org #1799743] Re: Is OSVR compatible with GPLv3 ?
        Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2022 09:36:03 -0500
        From: Yoni Rabkin via RT [5]<licensing@fsf.org>
   Re ply-To: [6]licensing@fsf.org
          To: [7]kreyren@rixotstudio.cz
   Hello and thank you for writing in.

Is this license compatible with GPLv3?
[8]https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK/blob/master/LICENSE.md

   License review is a lengthy process which often involves legal counsel,
   so I cannot provide you with an official review of the OSVR license.
   However, a cursory look at the terms of the license indicate to me that
   it is not even a free software license, and therefore like any other
   proprietary license would surely be incompatible with any version of
   the
   GPL.
   For instance, section j.3 states that:
   "You agree and acknowledge that the MDK, Modules or Module Interface
   Technology available on the OSVR Project are solely for the purposes of
   the OSVR Project and Your personal use. Except as permitted in this
   Clause, you may not use, sell or distribute the MDK, Modules or Module
   Interface Technology nor the IPR contained therein for any purposes
   whatsoever, whether for commercial gain or otherwise. Any attempts to
   do
   so will automatically terminate this License."
   This section alone would make this a proprietary license which merely
   grants you a kind of limited permission to work on OSVR projects. There
   may be other reasons this license would be non-free and
   GPL-incompatible.
   With the caveats above, I hope this is of help.
   --
   I am not a lawyer, the above is not legal advice
   Regards, Yoni Rabkin
   The services of the GPL Compliance Lab are made possible by
   donations from people like you. Please consider supporting us
   today by becoming a member [[9]https://my.fsf.org/join] or by making
   a donation [[10]https://www.fsf.org/donate].

References

   1. https://redirect.invidious.io/watch?v=OdZ9fKw_DGw
   2. https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK
   3. mailto:licensing@fsf.org
   4. https://github.com/relativty/Relativty
   5. mailto:licensing@fsf.org
   6. mailto:licensing@fsf.org
   7. mailto:kreyren@rixotstudio.cz
   8. https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK/blob/master/LICENSE.md
   9. https://my.fsf.org/join
  10. https://www.fsf.org/donate

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