Odoo vs Flectra Copyright Suit

The Great Copyright Suit of Odoo vs Flectra and the Conclusion

It is with great concern that We address the recent legal developments between our esteemed company, Flectra, and our industry counterpart, Odoo S.A.

Since the inception of Flectra, Odoo S.A. has displayed a concerning pattern of behavior, marked by an apparent unease and malicious intentions. Regrettably, they have engaged in a campaign to sow Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) about our project within the minds of developers, partners, integrators, investors, and users alike.

Odoo's actions appear to be fueled by their apprehension towards the capabilities and talent behind the Flectra team, which threatens to provide formidable competition and potentially capture a significant market share in the Open Source ERP industry. In a desperate attempt to impede Flectra's growth, Odoo has resorted to deploying devious tactics, including maligning the image of Flectra on various platforms and disseminating unfounded claims regarding fork and copyright infringement.

To this end, Odoo S.A. has gone so far as to publish a blog on their website, wherein they have attempted to present fabricated evidence in a vain effort to convince the public of their allegations. However, as the saying goes, "lies have a short life, and the truth goes a long way."

Regrettably, Odoo S.A. has taken legal action against Flectra, filing a case in the Ahmedabad, India commercial court. However, when challenged to present and substantiate their claims, Odoo S.A. inexplicably chose to withdraw the case and seek an out-of-court settlement. Their stated reason for this decision, citing delays due to a strike of counsel, is nothing more than a transparent attempt to mask the true nature of their actions.

From a technical standpoint, Odoo's case was devoid of any merit, as the similarities in code and naming conventions are a natural consequence of using a common framework. Such occurrences are ubiquitous within the software development industry and do not constitute a valid basis for copyright infringement.

We are pleased to inform you that the legal matter has been conclusively resolved, with the Hon'ble Commercial Court at Ahmedabad, Gujarat State, India, formally disposing of the case on May 4, 2018.

At Flectra, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing our valued clients with the highest level of service and support. We are proud to report that Flectra has been successfully operating since 2017, serving more than 1 million users in over 400,000 organizations across 100+ countries.

We would like to reassure all our developers, partners, integrators, investors, and users that Flectra is completely free from any such allegations, rumors, or infringement cases. You are welcome to use, implement, and enjoy the benefits of Flectra with the spirit of open-source, without any obligations or fear.

We appreciate your continued trust and support, and remain committed to the pursuit of innovation and excellence in the Open Source ERP market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the outcome of the lawsuit?

The legal proceedings concluded with Odoo S.A. withdrawing the case and seeking an out-of-court settlement. The Hon'ble Commercial Court at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, formally disposed of the case on May 4, 2018.

Yes, following the resolution of the lawsuit, there are no legal impediments to using Flectra. The platform operates under open-source licenses, and users can implement and utilize Flectra without concerns regarding the previous legal dispute. Flectra is as safe to use as any other LGPL-3 licensed products.

Since 2017, Flectra has been operational and has grown significantly, serving over 1 million users across more than 400,000 organizations in over 100 countries. The platform continues to evolve, offering a robust open-source ERP solution. Flectra has released 3 versions ever since the inception.

No, the resolution does not impact Flectra's updates or development. The platform continues to release new features and updates while adhering to open-source principles and maintaining legal compliance.

No, end users face no legal liability for using Flectra. The legal dispute with Odoo was resolved, and Flectra complies with all open-source licensing requirements.

Yes, migration from Odoo to Flectra is entirely legal and technically feasible. Flectra offers migration tools and services to facilitate a smooth transition for users who wish to switch platforms.

The lawsuit has no adverse implications for businesses using Flectra ERP. The legal matter was resolved amicably, and Flectra continues to be a reliable open-source ERP solution. Companies can adopt it confidently, knowing the platform complies with licensing norms.

No, the lawsuit has not negatively impacted Flectra’s credibility. On the contrary, the resolution of the case has strengthened Flectra's reputation as a robust, legally compliant open-source ERP solution.

Odoo alleged that Flectra copied proprietary elements from its Enterprise Edition. However, Flectra defended its position by demonstrating the originality and independence of its codebase.

Yes, Flectra welcomes contributions from third-party developers. The open-source nature of the platform encourages collaboration and innovation within the community.