Yesterday, the Winamp source code, build tools, and associated libraries for the Windows app were published on GitHub, allowing anyone to provide bug fixes and new features to the iconic media player.
However, its license prohibits the distribution of modified software created through the release of this source code.
yes, that license is unfortunate... i am not a license expert, but "private use only" modifications is sad to me. i mean, the difference with the GPL is just that contribs need to be upstreamed, right? that seems like a better balance, if so?
the GPL does not require upstreaming. it would allow for anyone to redistribute Winamp with whatever modifications they like, provided they publish their source code under the GPL. the license Winamp is using is not even an open-source license since it explicitly forbids public redistribution. dumb move, they should have just used MIT or GPL and retained rights to the logo or something
Just make a repo containing only changes, no original source, with instructions anyone can use to create their own version with community changes applied?
This is not open source. In open source people contribute to the project and in return the code belongs to anyone who likes to take it and work on it. Here they are asking for contribution while fully owning the code. It's basically free labor
Winamp is a media player for Microsoft Windows originally developed by Justin Frankel and Dmitry Boldyrev by their company Nullsoft, which they later sold to AOL in 1999 for $80 million
Moreover, with Nullsoft, AOL is getting entrenched in the music download space in terms of adopting a technology. Although the MP3 (MPEG 1, Audio Layer 3) format is controversial among mainstream record companies because of its use by music pirates, its ease of use has made it a de facto standard for music downloads by early adopters. According to Nullsoft, 1.2 million of its Winamp MP3 players are downloaded monthly.
San Francisco-based Spinner.com offers more than 100 different music channels online via streaming technology. It also offers downloads of some songs via the MP3 format. The company will remain in its new San Francisco location, AOL said.
E: Just discovered WACUP is only partially open source? Damb that sucks. Hope this release could help WACUP but seems unlikely. Maybe it would help them understand the core they'e working with better?
Also the people who used DirectX for a media player.........
Honestly I'm just waiting for an open source player to ape WinAmp's style with a different name and logo so I can stop using WinAmp as my go-to non-spotify music program