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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Silicon Chip - lack of common courtesy
| Author | Message | ||||
| matherp Guru  Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 10568 |
I spend significant time developing all sorts of code which I always make freely available. It is therefore disappointing when one particular author who writes in Silicon Chip directly copies big chunks of my code (Cfunctions) together with complex constructs developed by Nathan and doesn't have the common courtesy to reference either of us. The latest instance of this occurs in the code for one of the projects the October version of SC but it is not the first time. |
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lew247 Guru Joined: 23/12/2015 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1702 |
Would complaining to Silicon Chip do any good? They might refuse to print anythng else from him? |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 10568 |
Not given the specific individual. I don't expect headlines in the article but a comment-line in the code attributing the source would be not unreasonable |
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| Paul_L Guru Joined: 03/03/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 769 |
That sucks! In 1957 I included some remark lines in code which resolved far jumps (how far can you jump in a 4k core?) in the assembler for the IBM 1401 we were writing at Cornell. I wrote the remarks in Polish. The assembler was sold to IBM. Down through the years it migrated from machine to machine. In 1990 I was wading through the source deck (remember Hollerith cards) for Pan Am's 3090-200 assembler and found my Polish language remarks. Hundreds of IBM engineers had cut and modified remarks lines down through the decades but, apparently, none of them could translate the Polish so they did not mess with them. I suggest you include remarks in some language which is more obscure than Polish. Nowadays Google can translate Polish pretty well. Powadzenia! Pavel in NY |
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| Andrew_G Guru Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 872 |
Peter, commiserations - it really hurts and it is so unnecessary. LET ME SAY THOUGH THAT WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL HOW WE VENT OUR SPLEENS IN A PUBLIC FORUM. That said, and not wishing to wind Peter up, but it is also likely that the author was paid for the piece (albeit a pittance). For what it is worth I ceased to subscribe to SC because of my perception that the editorials had less to do with electronics and more about personal opinions on other subjects. This made me doubt the veracity of any evaluation the magazine might do. In case I start a left/right war I would have held the same view whatever hew the editorials were expressing. A slight tweak of Lewis' suggestion might be a query of SC's "policy" wrt attribution and see where that leads? (after all the magazine should have such a policy and should make it clear to authors. If authors don't comply they face a "We were wrong" and being sent to Coventry). Finally, Peter - please don't let this put you off as WE certainly appreciate what you do and you are entitled to enjoy your hobby free of contamination by, at best unthinking pecksniffs, at worst plagiarists. Andrew |
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CaptainBoing Guru Joined: 07/09/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2171 |
Check up on the licence under which it was published (here?) common-law copyright exists and it may well be a legal obligation to credit. I think Public domain skirts round this but I would definitely check - it is plagiarism by obscurity. Electronics mags are pretty much moribund now-a-days and maybe they have a conflict of interests in revealing the sources of stuff like this and that their mag is becoming increasingly irrelevant (my opinion - ymmv) but I get very little from them in recent times... seriously thinking I won't be renewing my subscription this time round - again my 2p and not intending to sway anyone's feelings on the matter |
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9750 |
I think it depends on one's interpretation of 'Open Source'. PLEASE LET ME BE VERY CLEAR AT THIS POINT: I am not wanting to start another of those....shall we say - 'Discussions'?......on Open Source etc, but the fact of the matter is that many see Open Source as a free right to simply copy and paste without any kind of acknowledgement. 'It's Open Source, so I can do whatever I like with it.' That is mostly correct, but the professional thing to do, is to acknowledge other people's work, if you are going to be using it as part of something. Even though technically speaking, you don't HAVE to. I pride myself on acknowledgements of anyone who has helped with anything I do, because I think that is only right and proper. But I guess I am preaching to the choir now. Did Silicon Chip actually edit-out the comments in the code giving you the credit for certain Cfunctions etc? If they did, that is a little unprofessional. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5157 |
"That Detective, is the right question" The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| mikeb Senior Member  Joined: 10/04/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 177 |
To give an idea on what I think of it, the first thing I spit out to the serial port, and the display, is this - "Operating System by Geoff Graham & Peter Mather - Software by Mike Boothroyd". Credit where credit is due. It is no skin off my nose to acknowledge the efforts of others. I'm sure I can speak for all in that WE appreciate your efforts (and Geoff's) in helping us achieve great things. Seriously. When are you guys going to get a DONATE button ? There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those that understand binary and those that don't. |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9750 |
Exactly.  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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twofingers Guru Joined: 02/06/2014 Location: GermanyPosts: 1671 |
I think the first step should be to ask the SC guys to think it over ... As Peter C. said: manners maketh man causality ≠ correlation ≠ coincidence |
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MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
The pot calling the kettle black...... It seems there really is something called karma. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| twofingers Guru Joined: 02/06/2014 Location: GermanyPosts: 1671 |
@MB I thought that was already clarified? Still hurt? causality ≠ correlation ≠ coincidence |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5157 |
Its on the drawing board. Will start a thread about it on the weekend. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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panky Guru Joined: 02/10/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1116 |
Jean, You appear to have an ongoing issue with Peter? His software contributions to the Micromite world are second only to Geoff so your ongoing snide insinuations about some issue with you gives you no credit and certainly does not make any worthwhile additions to this wonderful forum. If you have an issue, deal direct and get over it! ... almost all of the Maximites, the MicromMites, the MM Extremes, the ArmMites, the PicoMite and loving it! |
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