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Hitachi licence?

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Hitachi licence? 21/12/2021 at 11:37 #143049
MrSuttonmann
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I think I'm a little out of the loop here but I thought SimSig was home-built by Geoff under the Cajon Rail company.

I've just seen the news article about a licence extension from Hitachi.

What licence is that for, and if Hitachi suddenly decide otherwise on a whim does that mean SimSig's dead from that point?

(Formerly known as manadude2)
Last edited: 21/12/2021 at 11:38 by MrSuttonmann
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Hitachi licence? 21/12/2021 at 11:52 #143050
Peter Bennet
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From the General T&Cs

Quote:
End User Licence Agreement
The software is proprietary to Hitachi Information Control Systems Europe Ltd (HICSE), who permit its distribution by Cajon Rail LLC to the SimSig community, solely for non-commercial, hobby use and at all times in accordance with the End User Licence Agreement (EULA). The software can be withdrawn or modified at any time and without any warning entirely at the discretion of Cajon Rail LLC and / or HICSE. Availability of the software is again at the discretion of Cajon Rail LLC and / or HICSE and the channels for distribution may again be changed or withdrawn at any time and without any warning. Cajon Rail LLC reserve the right to charge a fee for use of the simulations.
Also this more comprehensive License Agreement which you signed up to when you installed SimSig.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
Last edited: 21/12/2021 at 11:58 by Peter Bennet
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Hitachi licence? 21/12/2021 at 12:01 #143051
Peter Bennet
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Arguably the two license agreements pages should really be a single document, or if the first is just a summary it should cross-refer to the second.

Peter

[Fixed]

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
Last edited: 21/12/2021 at 12:19 by Peter Bennet
Reason: Fixed link

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Hitachi licence? 21/12/2021 at 12:08 #143052
MrSuttonmann
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That doesn't really answer my question though Peter.

I've read the licence agreement of course, I've had plenty of time to do so since I first installed SimSig over a decade ago.

I don't remember any mention of Hitachi ever being involved in SimSig - that's more what I'm asking - what is the link and how is SimSig proprietary to them?

(Formerly known as manadude2)
Last edited: 21/12/2021 at 12:09 by MrSuttonmann
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Hitachi licence? 21/12/2021 at 12:20 #143053
Peter Bennet
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manadude2 in post 143052 said:
That doesn't really answer my question though Peter.

I've read the licence agreement of course, I've had plenty of time to do so since I first installed SimSig over a decade ago.

I don't remember any mention of Hitachi ever being involved in SimSig - that's more what I'm asking - what is the link and how is SimSig proprietary to them?
I think Hitachi took over TRESim (or whatever it was called) that Geoff worked for when he was in the UK.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Hitachi licence? 21/12/2021 at 12:49 #143055
postal
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From the Hitachi Information Control Systems Europe web-site: History.
“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Hitachi licence? 21/12/2021 at 12:51 #143056
MrSuttonmann
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Peter Bennet in post 143053 said:
manadude2 in post 143052 said:
That doesn't really answer my question though Peter.

I've read the licence agreement of course, I've had plenty of time to do so since I first installed SimSig over a decade ago.

I don't remember any mention of Hitachi ever being involved in SimSig - that's more what I'm asking - what is the link and how is SimSig proprietary to them?
I think Hitachi took over TRESim (or whatever it was called) that Geoff worked for when he was in the UK.

Peter
Ahhh, that makes sense. I remember TREsim being mentioned, didn't realise they got bought out.

Thanks!

(Formerly known as manadude2)
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Hitachi licence? 21/12/2021 at 15:46 #143058
clive
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As I understand the history ...

Geoff developed the first version of SimSig as a hobby. At some point he went to work for TRE and he sold them the rights to the software. Since they only wanted it for commercial use, they allowed him to continue to work on it as a hobby (including selling it).

At some point TRE were bought out by Hitachi.

TRE, now called Hitachi ICSE, own the copyright for some of the material in SimSig - not all of it - and so their permission is needed for Geoff to distribute it. There is a formal agreement to that end; this news item reports that this agreement has been renewed and updated.

Geoff now trades under the Cajon Rail name.

Note that SimSig can only be used for non-commercial purposes since Hitachi want the railway industry to use their products, not Geoff's.

Hope that helps.

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Hitachi licence? 21/12/2021 at 22:12 #143061
Gwasanaethau
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manadude2 in post 143049 said:
I think I'm a little out of the loop here but I thought SimSig was home-built by Geoff under the Cajon Rail company.

I've just seen the news article about a licence extension from Hitachi.

What licence is that for, and if Hitachi suddenly decide otherwise on a whim does that mean SimSig's dead from that point?
I saw this a couple of weeks ago, meant to ask about it, got distracted, and then forgot about it! Thanks for reminding me and doing the work for me in one go! XD

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Hitachi licence? 22/12/2021 at 06:09 #143067
JWNoctis
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Well, that enterprise-style either always-online or machine-lock-and-almost-always-online DRM suddenly made a lot more sense.

No real complaints either way, though!

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Hitachi licence? 22/12/2021 at 08:37 #143068
clive
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JWNoctis in post 143067 said:

Well, that enterprise-style either always-online or machine-lock-and-almost-always-online DRM suddenly made a lot more sense.
That was put in because people wanted to switch between (say) desktop and laptop machines without having to buy the sims twice. The previous arrangement meant moving a licence to a different machine was a major hassle.

It's nothing to do with Hitachi.

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