Conversation with Damian Spangrud
(ESRI product manager) about uploading unencrypt tools to the ESRI
download site
To: Johannes Weigel
Subject: Un-encrypt Script
Dear Johannes Weigel,
You recently uploaded several scripts to ESRI's ArcScripts that
involved Avenue script tools. Unfortunately, we had to remove these
scripts from our site because they contained code to un-encrypt Avenue
scripts. This
functionality is the result for reverse engineering of our Avenue
encryption method, which is illegal based on the end user license
agreement that you agreed to before using ArcView. Please do not
distribute this functionality, which is a direct violation of our
license agreement. Please feel free to contact me if you have other
questions. I
have CC'ed your local ESRI Distributor as well.
Sincerely,
-Damian
Damian Spangrud
Product Manager
ESRI
---------------------------------
To: Damian Spangrud
Subject: Re: Un-encrypt script
Dear Damian,
Thanks for contacting me. I did not have the intention to do anything
illegal when I uploaded scripts containing functionalities to unencrypt
Avenue code. The reason I programmed unencryption is to provide a
method to
(a) unencrypt accidentially encrypted code and (b) check if anybody is
illegally using my own source code (which is legally protected although
it
is open source). I uploaded it for the benefit of all open source
programmers to check if anybody is stealing their source code. I did
not
develop unencryption for any illegal purpose and I dissociate hereby
and in
the readme file attached to my unencrypt tools from any illegal use.
Unencryption is not designed to violate the ArcView end user license
aggreement. I suppose the passage You are referring to is the
following: "[...] Licensee shall not reverse engineer, decompile, or
disassemble the Software, or make any attempt to unlock or bypass the
software keycode and/or hardware key used, as applicable, subject to
local
law. [...]"
As You know, all source code provided by ESRI, not only the code of the
core program, is not encrypted. Unencryption of Avenue code by third
parties is definitely not against the license aggreement, especially as
it
is not even applicable to do anything that is restricted in the license
aggreement. Therefor I am not very delighted that ESRI is practising
censorship towards the user community of their products, the more so as
I
uploaded several scipts and extensions which are particularly highly
popular and increase the resources of ESRI products free of charge.
I want to encourage You to re-upload at least scripttool.avx on the
ESRI download site, especially as it contains several other
functionalities than unencryption. If You still think unencyption of
Avenue code is against any
law and/or license aggreement, I hereby request You to verify this
accusation juridically because I cannot aggree with You in that point
when I look at the license aggreement.
Sincerely,
Johannes
P.S.: I'm sending a copy to ESRI Hanover to keep them informed.
---------------------------------
To: Johannes Weigel
Subject: RE: Un-encrypt Script
Johannes,
Thank you for your response. I understand your concerns, but pending
further legal review concerning the legal ramifications of making such
a
tool available and the legality of such tool, ESRI has elected not to
allow
such tools to be posted on our web site.
Sincerely,
Damian
---------------------------------
URL: http://www.ecogis.de/damian.html
Homepage: http://www.ecogis.de/
last edited: Johannes Weigel, June 12, 2002