Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

I understand that there is some licensing mechanism behind Hard-SPL. I think it is suppose to be free to individuals, but businesses must purchase licenses. How exactly will this work? What if I get a replacement phone and need to unlock again? Will the license be tied to my phone number? My computer?

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

im a total noob, so I have no clue if my thoughts are correct... but im pretty sure the HSPL tool that the Gods are working so hard on will be released free to everyone. And then you can use that tool as many times as you need, for however many TP2's you have.

This is just my guess. Ive been in the ipod touch hacking community for a few years, and this is how it works over there. Some genius pumps out a jailbreaking tool, and then releases it and we all go crazy and rejoyce.

correction: i guess technically speaking im a lurker.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

its only a rumor right now and that comes from the elite teams chat

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

It's more than a rumor. Take a look at the GSM HardSPL. I think that's where the information and associated questions are stemming from.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Technically, I don't think they can charge for it. It is modified HTC code, so the owners are HTC.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

For example, here is the page for the Topaz GSM unlocker:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=520312

THIS IS NOT THE RHODIUM UNLOCKER!!!
I am just trying to give you an example of their license and instructions. It is tied to the individual, but assuming you just broke/replaced the phone I'm sure they'd be happy to help. They simply don't want people making a service out of unlocking phones using their software and hard work.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

The info about licensing for the HSPL came straight from CMONEX. The latest excuse of why the unlocker isn't released yet is because they are waiting for the licensing server to be working. That's right people...the HSPL is finished, tested , and ready for release. We're just waiting for this crap now. It's always somthing...

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Well, I'm one for licensing... prevents every Tom, D1ck and Habib from going into the unlocking business. Won't stop the smart ones, just the dumb ones.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

So what if you don't have internet access? your out of luck?

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

So they are licensing it. Right. I'll just pass that on to HTC and see how they feel about it.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

The licensing should be free to everyone, the reason for the licensing server is that the mass unlockers will have to pay for the unlocking now.

Me, I have my 1 TP2 and well, I will only unlock that, so that does not concern me at all.

And I am ok with them protecting their product.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

report in.. all problems fixed... now just waiting for release

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

man you guys i swear. look, if you guys wrote programs, freeware, or whatever for years, and the people loved it so much that they never bothered to learn how to make similar programs on their own because they were so good and never had to because they were free. so every time they release a new device you have to make a new program for that one then you keep using a template and it works, then they release more devices and it gets a little more difficult, still within a short while you produce again. then finally you get a real challenge and you have been working on it all this time and you go to look for help and ideas and you threads like the ones here and realize how ungrateful the people you have been helping out for so many years. and you start to maybe (idk) see other versions of your program in the far corners of the internet. so you decide to get a licence for your program just to make sure you actually get the credit for creating the program you made for all of the ingrates.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

seriously? they got the licensing issue fixed?

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

yeah cmonex said its done thier waiting for the server to come online so sounds like it could be soon

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

As I understand it, the Hard-SPL is a modified manufacturer bootloader. Since it was developed by the manufacturer, unless explicitly licensed under a license like the Apache/GPL/BSD, nobody can re-license nor charge for the code.

Modification cannot be used as justification, as it is a derivative work of the original copyrighted code.

Reverse-engineering is also covered under this same concept to a certain extent. If the code is reverse-engineered by inference, it cannot be redistributed if original code methods are used and the rest of the pieces filled in, as that is also considered derivative.

Edit: but it's a moot point, as it's already an illegal redistribution of HTC's code. HTC lets the community do so because the testing of pre-release code is vital to the development of better software.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

are you still in the chat now? if you are can you let me kno when they say it's online? or when they say they're uploading stuff?

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

I plan on reporting from the front line till its released they still just wiating for him to et ome and bring the server up

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

that's what i like to hear. are you gonna post on this thread?

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Not so sure this is accurate, the release is still TBA.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

yup right now everyone just waiting.. donating and waiting lol

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

you PM cmonex and she'll help you out

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

She actually said, probably not today. Waiting for Olipro to get home to deal with the servers. Nothing said about release day or time. Just not today probably.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Not really..there isn't much HTC can do...if you don't make any money off it..best HTC can do is get them to stop, but it is not worth the effort because HTC does not loose any money. You already bought the device, afterwards what do they care.

On the other hand, if you make money off it, thats a different story as HTC can come after you legally and take everything.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

HTC can always prosecute for illegal redistribution of propreitary code. Free or not. i wa saying that HTC allows this stuff to go because they need the community. They've said it before. We're their beta testers.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Ok so fill me in how is this Hard SPL different than the previous for the touch pro and all? I mean ya one SPL is made for a phone ik theres a difference but what is up with the licensing for the SPL? we havnt had to do that before.... Im calm, Im not gonna make a deal about an SPL being out or not because I want stock for a while anyway. Just want to know whats up is all... and if we are going to have to pay for a way to unlock the phone.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Why would it matter to HTC? think about it, whether you buy from sprint, Verizon, or directly..you still buy their phone...the only ones who could care are the carriers....HTC is not effected in any way. Not to mention, carriers distribute the boot loader updates as well. It is not like they are distributing source, they are distributing something thats only usable by those that bought the device. So HTC is in no way effected.

Now there is a huge difference when you try to sell stuff that is illegal over distributing it for free in legal terms its a WORLD of difference.(from slap on the hand to prison)

The moment you start to sell the modified code, give HTC a HUGE advantage if they choose to use it. Not to mention they can now come after your assets.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

They would care because modification to that program has the potential break a phone and more likely than not, they would have to eat the cost of replacing the phone.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

how do you keep idots in suspense........?

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

No...HTC does not replace phones..if you break the phone and replace it with the carrier, and carrier approves(which is paid by insurance company)..they make more money since you bought another set.

Otherwise, re-flashing your boot loader probably voids your warranty anyways.(if they notice that that is the case)

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Someone eats the cost of a returned device. Then they eat the cost of refurbishing it. HTC is at the end of the chain.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

HTC only eats the cost if its a manufacturer defect..otherwise the carriers pay insurance company and the insurance company handles the costs..HTC reaps the profits.

If your device broke because of unlocking, HTC wont be held accountable in any ways.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

I'm sure the insurance company doesn't just eat the cost of the phone. They will try to recover whatever money they can from the manufacturer.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

They cannot recover money from manufacturer if it is not a manufacturer defect..that said they make their money.

Look at it this way..you pay 7$ a month which is 84$ a year. (There is also a 50$-100$ replacement on some)

When they get a phone back, they "refurbish" the phone and then send it out to another person.

So all phones they get, unless they are in unrecoverable condition, will be reused.

They hardly eat any costs at all...other then repair ones which are trivial.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

There are several reasons why HTC would care. First and foremost is that it interferes with their marketing plan. HTC, and many manufactures control the sales of their newest products by controlling the software that is available for the previous version. This is simple marketing 101. The more people with access to the latest software version the fewer people who will buy the newest product. I'm sure HTC would have many other reasons as well.

They do care about this very much. With each generation of their devices the more difficult it is to unlock them. The first XDA that HTC released was very simple to flash a new ROM. You simply put it into bootloader and said yes to dumping the ROM onto your storage card. You then put the card in the device you wanted to upgrade, put it into bootloader and it picked up the file on the card and automatically started to flash the ROM. The next version had what was know as a country code. You had to dump the ROM, then using a hex editor you had to edit the first few line....and so on. HTC and others put a lot of effort into securing their ROMs. They don't do this because they have nothing better to do.

They've been somewhat tolerant of this over the years. Only occasionally do HTC, MS, or the carriers try to stop it. It is a fine line that we come closer to crossing all the time as more and more people get into flashing ROMs, and it becomes more widespread.

Dave

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Yes they do..but not so that you won't break them..it is more to appease the carriers cause the carriers do not want it broken. HTC makes you buy their next generation of devices by putting in minimum ram, minimum rom and 3 year old cpus >.>...HTC is in no way marketing it to us directly, they are marketing it to the carriers as far as US is concerned. The CDMA versions are always custom built to the specs of the CDMA carriers as it is not their standard release.

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Yup! That too. ;)

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

i guess all that jazz in th EULA is just hearsay?

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Reading this discussion leads me to believe that some of you folks really don't want HSPL available for those of us who may actually want to tinker with a device we've spent our own good money on. If the team wishes to "license" the use of the code to prevent its abuse, so be it. This place is insane! First you get people complaining that it's all taking to long, now others arguing that this sort of activity should be reported to HTC... wtf???

Re: Can someone explain the Hard-SPL Licensing?
 

Yes thats why not only Comnex but many people ask for donations. That's where the argument comes in, becasue you have some saying I donated "no obligations at hand" then you have some that know what donation implies..."paid for a service/product"..Then you word it right, i need donation for 8 phones and blah blah blah......So although causes a community uproar keeps legality of things in order....But yes as you just said donations, paying, or free, HTC can come down on you legally.