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What should I do when someone blatantly copy my open-source project on GitHub?

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What should I do when someone blatantly copy my open-source project on GitHub?

#1

Post by edwinkys »

Hi HN,

I created an open-source vector database a couple months back called OasysDB. It's not a popular project but it serve a specific use case and has a small community behind it.

So, recently, someone in the community sent a link to me about a repository that after digging deeper into it seems like a blatant copy of OasysDB v0.4 (It's now v0.7). They changed all of the initial branding and information to their own branding like name, author, email, etc.

This is their repository: https://github.com/Sahomey-Technologies/sahomedb

This is OasysDB v0.4: https://github.com/oasysai/oasysdb/tree/v0.4.0

I honestly don't know what to do. I know that OasysDB is open-source and thus, free to modify and redistribute. But, I feel like this is more like a plagiarism and a bit unethical to do.

If anyone got similar experience, I'd like to hear some advice.

Thank you in advance.

Re: What should I do when someone blatantly copy my open-source project on GitHub?

#3

Post by edwinkys »

throwaway48540 wrote: post #2

Did they include your original copyright notice? If so, they're free to change the branding, name, contact information and so on - they simply forked your project.

Unfortunately not. I tried to find some form of attribution to the original project but I couldn't find any.

Re: What should I do when someone blatantly copy my open-source project on GitHub?

#4

Post by throwaway48540 »

edwinkys wrote: post #3
throwaway48540 wrote: post #2

Did they include your original copyright notice? If so, they're free to change the branding, name, contact information and so on - they simply forked your project.

Unfortunately not. I tried to find some form of attribution to the original project but I couldn't find any.

Then fill the DMCA form.

Re: What should I do when someone blatantly copy my open-source project on GitHub?

#5

Post by edwinkys »

throwaway48540 wrote: post #4
edwinkys wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately not. I tried to find some form of attribution to the original project but I couldn't find any.

Then fill the DMCA form.

I see. How should I do that? Report repository?

Re: What should I do when someone blatantly copy my open-source project on GitHub?

#6

Post by mouse_ »

Your repo is licensed as Apache 2.0. It seems these guys MAY be in violation of that license. My first steps would be to fully understand the license you chose to apply to your original code, and then figure out if that's something you can report to GitHub for infringing.

Re: What should I do when someone blatantly copy my open-source project on GitHub?

#7

Post by edwinkys »

mouse_ wrote: post #6

Your repo is licensed as Apache 2.0. It seems these guys MAY be in violation of that license. My first steps would be to fully understand the license you chose to apply to your original code, and then figure out if that's something you can report to GitHub for infringing.

Hey, thank you for your suggestion. I tried to read the license and if I'm not mistaken, they need to attribute the copyright to the original project, no?

Re: What should I do when someone blatantly copy my open-source project on GitHub?

#8

Post by mouse_ »

edwinkys wrote: post #7
mouse_ wrote: post #6

Your repo is licensed as Apache 2.0. It seems these guys MAY be in violation of that license. My first steps would be to fully understand the license you chose to apply to your original code, and then figure out if that's something you can report to GitHub for infringing.

Hey, thank you for your suggestion. I tried to read the license and if I'm not mistaken, they need to attribute the copyright to the original project, no?

It appears so. I have not personally gone with Apache before so I am not an expert.
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