Re: Developing a Freeware based around Commercial


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Re: Developing a Freeware based around Commercial

Posted By: Forrest of B.org Date: 12/2/08 2:09 p.m.
In Response To: Developing a Freeware based around Commercial IP (Robtot)

: So, taking into account everything that's been said in this whole discussion,
: in THEORY, there's no drama with developing a wholly original IP product
: (even in the origin of said IP is commercial) providing that it's all
: released for free, with Bungie's 'no charging' notice, and GPL
: requirements, BUT it could still potentially get done over by an over
: zealous lawyer.
Current best indications are that it's perfectly legit to package a Marathon/AlephOne scenario with the application (and source and license) and distribute it as you like for free. If Gregory is correct in his suspicious about the illegitimacy of file-header copyright claims, then you could even *sell* an AlephOne scenario that contained absolutely no original Marathon content (or any other content you did not have license to sell); the "free" in "free software" means 'libre', not 'gratis', so you can charge all you want so long as the source and license are included.
However, as we don't have an official license from Bungie yet, it is theoretically possible that people distributing original Marathon content in their scenarios (or the original Marathon games themselves) could get legal threats from Bungie, who still owns the copyrights on everything. But it appears very unlikely that they will ever do such a thing.
Now if you were to try selling something AO-based, even without original Marathon content, then they might get huffy about it, but given the limited market appeal of a new AO-based game I really doubt anybody would raise a fuss even about that.

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: Current best indications are that it's perfectly legit to package a : Marathon/AlephOne scenario with the application (and source and license) : and distribute it as you like for free. If Gregory is correct in his : suspicious about the illegitimacy of file-header copyright claims, then : you could even *sell* an AlephOne scenario that contained absolutely no : original Marathon content (or any other content you did not have license : to sell); the "free" in "free software" means 'libre', : not 'gratis', so you can charge all you want so long as the source and : license are included. : However, as we don't have an official license from Bungie yet, it is : theoretically possible that people distributing original Marathon content : in their scenarios (or the original Marathon games themselves) could get : legal threats from Bungie, who still owns the copyrights on everything. : But it appears very unlikely that they will ever do such a thing. : Now if you were to try selling something AO-based, even without original : Marathon content, then they might get huffy about it, but given the : limited market appeal of a new AO-based game I really doubt anybody would : raise a fuss even about that.

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Current Legality of Shapes File Distribution? LINK	Rabbit	11/29/08 2:56 p.m.
Re: Current Legality of Shapes File Distribution?	thermoplyae	11/29/08 10:33 p.m.
Re: Current Legality of Shapes File Distribution?	Forrest of B.org	11/30/08 12:16 p.m.
What Forrest said	Bob-B-Q	11/30/08 12:32 p.m.
On a similar theme of things Aleph One	Robtot	12/1/08 5:40 a.m.
Re: On a similar theme of things Aleph One	Andrew Nagy	12/1/08 8:08 a.m.
Re: On a similar theme of things Aleph One	treellama	12/1/08 8:52 a.m.
Re: On a similar theme of things Aleph One	treellama	12/1/08 8:45 a.m.
Re: On a similar theme of things Aleph One	Robtot	12/1/08 9:42 p.m.
Re: On a similar theme of things Aleph One	treellama	12/2/08 5:18 a.m.
Re: On a similar theme of things Aleph One	Robtot	12/2/08 5:40 a.m.
Re: On a similar theme of things Aleph One	treellama	12/2/08 8:26 a.m.
Re: On a similar theme of things Aleph One	Robtot	12/2/08 1:45 p.m.
Re: What Forrest said	Andrew Nagy	12/1/08 8:11 a.m.
Re: Current Legality of Shapes File Distribution?	Robtot	12/1/08 9:35 p.m.
Re: Current Legality of Shapes File Distribution?	Forrest of B.org	12/1/08 10:19 p.m.
Re: Current Legality of Shapes File Distribution?	Robtot	12/1/08 11:37 p.m.
Re: Current Legality of Shapes File Distribution?	treellama	12/2/08 5:36 a.m.
Developing a Freeware based around Commercial IP	Robtot	12/2/08 5:52 a.m.
Re: Developing a Freeware based around Commercial	Forrest of B.org	12/2/08 2:09 p.m.
Re: Current Legality of Shapes File Distribution?	Rabbit	12/2/08 11:30 a.m.



	Your Name:
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	Message: : Current best indications are that it's perfectly legit to package a : Marathon/AlephOne scenario with the application (and source and license) : and distribute it as you like for free. If Gregory is correct in his : suspicious about the illegitimacy of file-header copyright claims, then : you could even sell an AlephOne scenario that contained absolutely no : original Marathon content (or any other content you did not have license : to sell); the "free" in "free software" means 'libre', : not 'gratis', so you can charge all you want so long as the source and : license are included. : However, as we don't have an official license from Bungie yet, it is : theoretically possible that people distributing original Marathon content : in their scenarios (or the original Marathon games themselves) could get : legal threats from Bungie, who still owns the copyrights on everything. : But it appears very unlikely that they will ever do such a thing. : Now if you were to try selling something AO-based, even without original : Marathon content, then they might get huffy about it, but given the : limited market appeal of a new AO-based game I really doubt anybody would : raise a fuss even about that.
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