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gdarko / digital-license-manager

Extendable License Manager for WordPress and WooCommerce šŸ”‘
https://wordpress.org/plugins/digital-license-manager/
GNU General Public License v3.0
20 stars 5 forks source link

Attempts to steal our code #37

Open gdarko opened 9 months ago

gdarko commented 9 months ago

What is going on

Unfortunately the new developer of License Manager for WooCommerce plugin decided to illegally steal our code and incorporate it into their plugin License Manager for WooCommerce. There are two attempts so far by the team behind License Manager for WooCommerce to publish a new version with our code while removing copyrights and not attributing at all.

First back in August 2023 when they published 2.3-beta and now again in November with version 3.0+. All attempts are reported and recorded. I am sorry that this happens but we aim to protect our IP rights.

Don't get me wrong, we have no issues with proper forking. But our indications tell something different, apparently they started to see the traction and the impact of our plugin and want to suppress it by stealing our code.

How Digital License Manager started

Initially we forked License Manager for WooCommerce because Drazen Bebic, the original author abandoned it before he sold the plugin to the current team behind. I am sure you remember that there were no updates for around a year before he let it go.

To give some more context. I used License Manager for WooCommerce and contributed to the project with code, i am one of the early adopters of License Manager for WooCommerce.

What changed in LMFWC after the takeover

Most likely nothing valuable. The plugin is still abandoned even after the takeover by the new team. If you see the big picture, there are no features so far, the only added "feature" is the malicious Freemius addon. No HPOS support yet, PHP warnings remain, all the old problems remain like stock synchronization, etc. Now in 3.0+ as gratis to their beloved users they introduced a lot more issues by incorrectly stealing our code.

Only "compatibility checks" with WooCommerce and WordPress that increments its version. Oh and they reorganized the menu.

Continued development of Digital License Manager

In meanwhile, we rewrote our Digital License Manager plugin from scratch. There is not a lot left from the old License Manager for WooCommerce. The code we choose to keep properly attributes and restores copyright to the original owner (See example).

We updated the database structure, made Activations in separate table, added HPOS support, rewrote and separated the business logic, rewrote the Rest API, introduced Gutenberg blocks, created PDF Certificates feature, Ditched jQuery, developed migration tools that allows you to migrate from LMFWC and a lot more cool stuff.

Also we created WooCommerce Subscriptions support in the Pro version. Many new features are in the pipeline, like Reports.

Why this DRAMA

Because, it probably makes sense to steal our code in the most illegal way possible. Our code is nice and clean, well tested with unit tests. We have a lot more features and much better database organization. They have no clear path about future development. The only goal is to milk more money from their plugin with 6k+ active installs obtained on old glory. In this case, it really makes sense to pass it unnoticed on WP.org plugin repository, but here they failed.

Besides that, they are also targeting our WooCommerce Subscriptions support feature in their premium version as well because once you have large chunks of the free version of Digital License Manager, you can easily adopt that feature.

How to migrate to Digital License Manager

If you are interested to migrate your data to Digital License Manager, read more here:

Migrate from License Manager for WooCommerce

I will keep this thread updated

Updates

inpresif commented 9 months ago

I contributed in the past to original one as well, and never updated after he sold it, because i made changes that i did not want to override (removed the new license keys on each rebill for the subscriptions bug).

Did not know you created/continued to develop the original one. I'll have a look and see if we can switch while keeping all our current keys/APIs/structure etc. We have the APIs connected to our our own platform/custom CMS so I'm keen on knowing if the old API URLs still work when switching.

gdarko commented 9 months ago

I contributed in the past to original one as well, and never updated after he sold it, because i made changes that i did not want to override (removed the new license keys on each rebill for the subscriptions bug).

Did not know you created/continued to develop the original one. I'll have a look and see if we can switch while keeping all our current keys/APIs/structure etc. We have the APIs connected to our our own platform/custom CMS so I'm keen on knowing if the old API URLs still work when switching.

Hey @inpresif ,

The plugin comes with a tool for migration that can be found in Settings > Tools. I am doing some improvements to it right now.

Also i am currently working on a compatibility layer mainly for the Rest API.

The newest release is coming soon and is focused on backwards compatibility for the users to be able to migrate easily.

Best Regards, Darko

Hootie298 commented 9 months ago

I'll also have a look at Digital License Manager as a replacement. I'm uncomfortable about using a plugin with plagiariased code and poor quality releases.

koullis22 commented 9 months ago

@gdarko hey can we migrate from other plugin to yours without problem or wait for the update that you mentioned above?

gdarko commented 9 months ago

Hey @koullis22 - I will release a new version 1.5.5 tomorrow or Monday.

This update focuses on improving the migration process:

For migration refer to this article:

Migrate from License Manager for WooCommerce

Best Regards, Darko

koullis22 commented 9 months ago

@gdarko Thank you for your reply..will wait for the update

other plugin seems they managed to reinstate the plugin

gdarko commented 9 months ago

Hey @koullis22 , @Hootie298 , @inpresif

The latest version is now released.

Changelog:

yfnew commented 9 months ago

image By anychance ,can you add a function like this pls (image uplload.) also could i ask a question about the pro version , can i pay for it by the cryptos like the LTC/USDT/XMR...etc..?..

gdarko commented 9 months ago

image By anychance ,can you add a function like this pls (image uplload.) also could i ask a question about the pro version , can i pay for it by the cryptos like the LTC/USDT/XMR...etc..?..

Hey, This is already possible. For pro version support, please message us at info@codeverve.com.

sameedfazal commented 9 months ago

@gdarko Can you please let us know that the whole database structure of licenses and generators is the same in your plugin as you managed to copy it from license manager. I can see that the adding editing of lcenses and generators is the same in your plugin and no new concept of yours. So all i can see is you have copied a whole big chunk of license manager basically the whole core for adding updating and deleting.

sameedfazal commented 9 months ago

@gdarko Also i have seen that the settings are even copied from the original license manager so i must say you are a duplicate of that plugin. I can see how deliberately you are trying to convince people and migrate them to your plugin. But hey you forgot to copy the old API that many people are using and you don't have similar routes so i would be staying with the original plugin and not this forked one. Peace out āœŒļø

gdarko commented 9 months ago

@sameedfazal - Hey, nice to hear your feedback, it's important to have the both sides.

To be clear, i don't deny that my plugin started as a fork of License Manager for WooCommerce and normally some of the UI screens like License/Generator screens are similar with various improvements and refreshed look and feel. The database structure was revised and various improvements were added like separate table for Activations, reworked product settings, reworked plugin settings, etc.

Also, all the core logic was rewritten from scratch (1.4v and onwards), including the Rest API, data layer, helper functions, CRUD operations behind the UI for Licenses and Generators and the plugin was extended with unique features like PDF Certificates, revised "My Account" UI, revised REST API Key permissions, Processing tools, etc.

Regarding migration, i think you are wrong, people already started to do that. Additionally as of yesterday i added a Compatibility Layer that can produce the same REST API endpoints and responses but under the hood utilize Digital License Manager's core.

Unlike you guys, i listened to users feedback and implemented everything they asked for in the past three years, that is how this plugin started. On the other hand, i see that your plugin is still abandoned. If you don't count the version check increments and the unproperly forked features from my plugin no other unique features were added. Also, the old bugs still remain.

Finally, I would like to hear more about which new features you added since Drazen Bebic sold it to you?

Cheers āœŒļø

sameedfazal commented 9 months ago

@gdarko To be clear it is not my plugin and i am not a part of this debate secondly i just wanted to let you know that criticizing someone just because the plugin used a single feature of yours is not a good way of promoting your plugin. I don't wanna know what your plans are for this but still i would say that license manager is doing good so far as well as providing support to many users. Yeah i also feel drazen's empty space but still so far people are getting there issues fixed. Also there are many issues with your plugin as well that you haven't addressed or encountered but i have since i tried your plugin once and felt like a complete replica of license manager for WooCommerce

gdarko commented 9 months ago

@gdarko To be clear it is not my plugin and i am not a part of this debate secondly i just wanted to let you know that criticizing someone just because the plugin used a single feature of yours is not a good way of promoting your plugin. I don't wanna know what your plans are for this but still i would say that license manager is doing good so far as well as providing support to many users. Yeah i also feel drazen's empty space but still so far people are getting there issues fixed. Also there are many issues with your plugin as well that you haven't addressed or encountered but i have since i tried your plugin once and felt like a complete replica of license manager for WooCommerce

Looking at your Linkedin and website i can't say that you are not part of the debate. Actually you are working for Objects.ws ( WPExperts.io ) That would say enough about those conclusions you are drawing. I am not going to further engage in pointless discussions.

Update: After this comment he removed his point of contact from his profile trying to hide that he isn't employee.šŸ˜†

Update: Adding more context to what is he trying to hide. I will edit this to keep up to date as long as i see the need.

sameedfazal commented 9 months ago

@gdarko Ohh my gosh how many times would you edit your comment fighting like a cry baby

sameedfazal commented 9 months ago

Hey @koullis22 , @Hootie298 , @inpresif

The latest version is now released.

Changelog:

  • Improvements to the migration tool from License Manager for WooCommerce
  • Add REST API Compatibilitylayer for License Manager for WooCommerce
  • Add public helper functions that can be used to interact with the plugin's database
  • Add migration notices
  • Fixes various smaller issues here and there
  • Improves the unit tests collection

These are not improvements to the migration tool these are changes which were needed cause license manager changed it's settings structure šŸ˜‹ Also License manager doesn't use third party libraries for smallest things like this duplicate plugin. namingly query builder tcpdf even flash messages šŸ˜‹

gdarko commented 9 months ago

Hey @koullis22 , @Hootie298 , @inpresif The latest version is now released. Changelog:

  • Improvements to the migration tool from License Manager for WooCommerce
  • Add REST API Compatibilitylayer for License Manager for WooCommerce
  • Add public helper functions that can be used to interact with the plugin's database
  • Add migration notices
  • Fixes various smaller issues here and there
  • Improves the unit tests collection

These are not improvements to the migration tool these are changes which were needed cause license manager changed it's settings structure šŸ˜‹ Also License manager doesn't use third party libraries for smallest things like this duplicate plugin. namingly query builder tcpdf even flash messages šŸ˜‹

Dude, IgniteKit's packages are maintained by us, we use the same packages across all of our plugins. And normally we use TCPDF because that software is almost 20 years old and it's quality is not questionable.

Regarding the migration tool improvements, it actually does include improvements like undo feature, etc.

Your comment doesn't make sense.

opicron commented 1 week ago

Just to add to this discussion. I have tried both the License Manager for WooCommerce and Digital License Manager.

Licence Manager for Woocommerce had a lot of flaws and odd implementations. Dashboard templates in My Account were not intuitive and the developer literally said they will not implement suggested improvements. Manually added Licenses would not show on the License dashboard for example. After looking at the codebase of both plugins it seemed obvious to choose for Digital License Manager.

Thanks @gdarko, great plugin and great support.