Really Cool Mods...

I completely agree with you!

If you are referring to integration it goes a bit beyond just finding the product, but also making it work smoothly with Dolphin which can be no easy feat. I would gladly pay to have a free open source application work in conjunction with Dolphin. I recently bought an integration from the most accommodating developer I've ever dealt with who just had their integration modules removed for some unknown reason. 

I also bought a scribd integration from younet which has made a world of difference on my site!

I'm looking forward to seeing more in the future.

I also agree... I've purchased a few modules that focus on providing the step-by-step details needed to properly integrate a well known 3rd party module (or plugin) into a Dolphin website.  And they provide help if some tweaking needs to be done.  It's worth it. 

If the person is REALLY integrating it with Dolphin then yes that should be fine, you're paying for the labor. Actually even if the person is just installing it on your server then your just paying for the labor. This has been a sore spot in the past because we've had several guys come through who were selling free scripts OR taking free scripts and sticking them in an Iframe and puttting it up for sale.

If the person is just selling a script with no install or integration and that script was distributed as free under one of the open source licenses then NO that's not ok. It's not fair to the person who wrote the script and it's not fair to you either. There are no caves on the internet that Google hasn't spelunked and honestly your money would be much better spent on advertising than paying someone a finders fee on an open source script.

I'm guessing this is about everyone's favorite developer, tboulley.

I removed one product of his, because it had nothing to do with Dolphin.  It was media server hosting for a third-party script.  He included the script, and told people to add a menu link after it was installed.  That's not an integration, and it's using this market to sell products which shouldn't be here.

He responds by insulting me (and other moderators) countless times.  He even went as far as to pull all his products and then claim we did so, which is not true.  He's now having his customers contact us and BoonEx about a situation which is mostly fabricated.

I've been ignoring all his childish antics, but he won't be around long if he keeps it up.  I told him that he's welcomed to put his products back up (again), but if there are more like the one removed, they will also be removed.  I also told him that he's welcomed to sell the removed stuff elsewhere, or contact the developers of those scripts or their communities to provide services directly to them.  I'm sure that would be more beneficial to all involved.

I've received a few reports about his MP3Zone products because of the actual script behind it.  When I first got the reports, I sent him a message asking for some information on how his products differ.  It took ten responses and a slew of insults, but he finally told me.  In the end, there was some kind of script to integrate it, and he also made some direct changes to that script's code.  I found them adequate and did nothing more.  I never removed the product during that time, either.  Indeed, I still haven't removed the product, and all removals (other than the live streaming one) were his own doing.

Let me make this clear: I have done nothing about any of his products, except the live streaming one, which was explained above.  He removed all of his other products on his own and launched a campaign.  I never told him his products were not allowed here, except for those like the live steaming one, because those actually have nothing to do with this script.  It was the equivalent of me offering SHOUTcast hosting here and claiming it can be a great addition to Dolphin.  True, but it still has nothing to do with Dolphin, so it doesn't belong here. 

Edit: In case there's any confusion, the live streaming product was _not_ one of his MP3Zone offerings. 

I appreciate everyone's comments, concerns, and understanding here. I would like to take it a bit further to explain some more in detail,  just for the record :)

1st - Decisions are not made by 1 person's allegations, complaints, or personal opinions. Moderators and BoonEx (if needed) discuss possible problems and the best resolutions amongst each other before actions are taken.

4 of the requirements that should be met when posting 3rd party 'integration' products to the Unity Market.

- Each product should have a completed courtesy list filed out (actually all modules)

- Integration: When a module is labeled as an 'integration' to Dolphin, it is meant that the module with utilize at least one of the core functions within the Dolphin platform. Examples may include: Spy, Profile table, Wall, interaction with other features within Dolphin (groups, events, etc.)

- Developer is required to credit the original owner/author of the module as well as a link to the author's website. This will give the 'potential' buyer the ability to read/test the product from the original owner. However if the module for sale is actually a free open source program, on the negative flip side for the developer, the potential buyer could download the product from there and install it themselves. That's when the reports of these products come flooding in to the Moderators saying 'This developer is selling a product that is absolutely free'.

- Developer is required to give complete details/description of the product and it's integrations within Dolphin. (all modules)

The point behind this is being more 'ethical' and ‘fair’ when it comes to posting products for sale to the Market and not just in this case, in ALL cases. Some may have no problem at all paying for scripts, even though they are freely available. However, decisions on Market items are made to the best interest of all members of Unity, not just a select few.

Now don’t get me wrong, if you find a free script and actually make changes/additions to the code to integrate it into core functions of Dolphin, then by all means. Charge for what you think your time is worth coding. You still have to follow the requirements listed above when posting to the Market. The more information you provide your customers on your products, the less likely you are to have any negative review, disputes, and/or reports.

Answers to sample hypothetical questions:

- I take a day off work to browse the internet and I came across a free script that I can download. I download it and follow the instructions to install it. The script happens to be a 'Stand-Alone' PHP product, which just means I have to install it in it's own directory and possibly it's own database. I create a menu link at my Dolphin site that points to the install directory so my members can play with the new feature. Since I found it before anyone else did, can I write up a readme.txt (or use the existing one) and post it in the Unity Market for $100 because I think it’s awesome? The answer: NO  

- So what if I find a website similar to ShareThis or AddThis that only requires you to drag a HTML block onto the page you want it to show on and paste a 'embed' code that’s free for anyone. Can I write a readme.txt file that tells you how to install a simple HTML block and paste the code that I found for free, and charge $40 for it? The answer: NO

-My module is in an iFrame. That’s the same thing as integrated right? The Answer: NO

I have no problem with people posting in one of the off-topic forums about stuff they stumble upon when searching.  It's only a problem when someone wants to post that stuff in the market and charge.  Actually, it's also a problem when someone wants to post that stuff in the market, even for free.  It simply doesn't belong there. 

i agree

Christopher, sorry, this guy just struck me as a con man. You're 100% correct, it's none of my business how you spend your money.

In the end, here's a statement on policies:

I care about the market a lot.  If there's one thing I'm going to be doing, it's making sure products meet the requirements and aren't violating a license.  In the case of much of tboulley's work, he was doing at least one of those things, sometimes both.  I can understand that some people wouldn't have found those scripts and services without his products, but that doesn't excuse the fact that they didn't belong in the market.

Find something interesting to share with other Dolphin users?  Perhaps a free radio script people can add to their site, or a free weather widget that can be put in a block (ahem)?  Don't make a product for it, unless the license allows it and there is an acceptable integration.  Instead, post in the forums about it.

 Thank you... :)