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Google's Artemis project accused of using uncredited open-source code from Minitap

🔄 Updated 12h ago
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Key points

  • Google released Artemis, a mobile device automation project.
  • Minitap claims Artemis contains uncredited code from their 'mobile-use' project.
  • Specific code sections, agent instructions, and examples match Minitap's work.
  • Minitap engineers' names were reportedly removed from the code history.

Allegations of Uncredited Code Use

Minitap has accused Google of incorporating code from its open-source 'mobile-use' project into Google's new Artemis project without proper attribution. Artemis is designed for automating mobile devices. Minitap personnel identified specific code segments, including those for connecting to Android devices and instructions for the 'Hopper' agent, as identical to their own work.

Specific Code Matches Identified

Minitap provided examples of matching code, such as the exact instructions for the 'Hopper' agent and a WhatsApp messaging example that included the same task, comments, and cleanup steps. They also noted that both implementations shared a specific bug, which Artemis has since fixed. The name 'Hopper' for the agent was also a unique choice made by Minitap's engineers.

Author History Alterations

Minitap further alleges that an older version of the code in question listed their engineers, Pierre-Louis Favreau, Jean-Pierre Lo, and Nicolas Dehandschoewercker, as authors. This author list was reportedly removed and replaced with another author in a subsequent version, with no other changes to the files according to GitHub's activity record.

Implications for Open Source

Minitap expressed disappointment in Google's actions, stating that such practices undermine the principles of open source. They emphasized that the treatment of shared work is crucial for maintaining a collaborative open-source ecosystem.

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Reporting from

Minitap alleges that Google's recently released Artemis project, an automation tool for mobile devices, contains code directly copied from Minitap's open-source 'mobile-use' project without attribution. Minitap claims their engineers' names were removed from the code's history, raising concerns about open-source attribution practices.