The simple logic of open source software is very simple.

You write an open source project because:

1. You are developer looking for recognition for your skillsets in a very large community.

2. You want to write a piece of software and want / need technical help and cannot afford it, financially.

3. You want to give back something that has aided you before ( OS software )

etc, etc, etc, ...

So, lets examine SugarCRM and vTiger based on the above reasons:

SugarCRM has their product and needed / desired help with the development ergo the made it open source. They received an immense amount of help ( for FREE ) from the community involved in open source ( developers and beta testers, etc. ) These folk perform this effort based on the fact they will always have the open source to utilize themselves a.k.a provide support services for it because they really understand it and therefore also promote the product to become a SF.net project of the month. SugarCRM at some point decides there product is ready for primetime and wants OUT of the OS sandbox to play in the commercial world. Their choice, which is fine by me.

vTiger comes along at some point in time, maybe they did not contribute code to the SugarCRM project maybe they did. Maybe they studied the code as beta testers or whatever. Maybe they got some clients to support for SugarCRM. SugarCRM goes commercial and their clients want the latest stuff but now they no longer have access to the source anymore. SugarCRM decided to cut off the feed of source for their personal gain. SugarCRM does not pay anyone for their time and effort in getting to that point, so in a nutshell they want the cake, the pan, the oven, and ALSO all proof the kitchen ever existed. They want to spin the clients of their supporters into their own and clain the potential revenues. Legal yes, shady?... definitely. SugarCRM played the OS game and then wanted out. vTiger simply said HEY! That is BS… you can go but you are leaving the source here ( in the OS world )

In short, vTiger upheld the Spirit of Open Source with respect to SugarCRM source base. In fact, it was SugarCRM that took the project off the OS radar. In the true spirit of the OS community SugarCRM should be very happy that their code lives on and is expanded its user base. In addition, if and when vTiger makes some monumental improvement to the source I bet $$$ that SugarCRM will grab the code and incorporate into its product under the radar.

With respect to copyright, I believe if you write:

For ( I = 1 to 100 )
Loop
End Loop

And then I write:

For ( J = 1 to 100 )
Loop
End Loop

Did I steal the copyright?

Just my thoughts.

Also, please note I like both products but actually use neither of them. I am involved in the OS community and the Commercial World as well. I like being involved in the OS community anonymously to gain more skills but obviously in the Commercial World I have a name and I believe that name is the American Programmer.

Thumbs up for vTiger! Code On!