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kaylus
Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Tallahassee, Florida
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:44 pm Post subject: Non-Commercial MUD Licensing |
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Note: I wasn't exactly sure of whether to post this here or in the META forum, but since this does cover licensing of a MUD, I figured here would be better.
I have written a MUD server in the Pike scripting language, and have been pondering releasing it for some time. I am currently in the stages of attempting to clean it up before I start my new job, which may not happen. I may end up releasing it before completion.
Regardless of the state of the project, and the fact that it more than likely will not be used for such purposes, I still am wary of releasing my personal code into public due to IP theft. I have tried to form a decent COPYRIGHT agreement, and though I am not bad in IP law, this is not my area of expertise so I thought I would ask the opinion of other programmers.
I am also trying to figure a way to word in something that seperates the Library (the World) from the driver, as I don't want to retain any rights to that. I may just release that part in a seperate archive.
The Library does have to communicate with the Driver and calls on specific functions, I don't want it to be considered a derivative work or an amendment.
Here is my copy:
Code: | GenMUD: Copyright (c) 2003 Kevin A. Morgan
1) DEFINITIONS:
a) LICENSE: This Document
b) SOFTWARE: The source code, associated documentation files, and any
artistic work received with an original copy of the archive
and copyrighted by Kevin A. Morgan.
c) LICENSEE: Any person who receives and utilizes a copy/derivative/
original version of the SOFTWARE.
2) COPYRIGHT LICENSE:
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to the LICENSEE upon obtaining
a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the SOFTWARE), to
use the SOFTWARE for personal use and to distribute the SOFTWARE so long as the
following conditions are met:
a) This LICENSE and any copyright notice and permission notice include with
the SOFTWARE shall be included in all copies distributed and should be
noted throughout substantial portions of the SOFTWARE.
b) The SOFTWARE shall not be used for any type of commercial use, including
but not limited to any usage that generates revenue based on the usage or
distribution of the Software, without the LICENSEE first obtaining a
Commercial Licensing Agreement (CLA) from the author.
b) The original source code must be included or must be made immediately
available, free of charge to anyone to whom the SOFTWARE and LICENSE are
transferred.
d) Copyright notices, including but not limited to this LICENSE and all
source code header files, are to remain in their original place and
original state, without modification.
3) LIMITATIONS ON DERIVATIVE WORKS
The LICENSEE may create derivative works as long as they retain the original
license and abide by all conditions therein, and credit for the original
authorship of the SOFTWARE is retained in all original files.
*A derivative work as defined in 17 USC 101, section 101 is "a work based
upon one or more preexisting works, such as a translation, musical arrangement,
dramatization, fictionalization, motion picture version, sound recording, art
reproduction, abridgment, condensation, or any other form in which a work may
be recast, transformed, or adapted. A work consisting of editorial revisions,
annotations, elaborations, or other modifications which, as a whole, represent
an original work of authorship, is a "derivative work"
4) WARRANTY
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL
THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
THE SOFTWARE. |
I am looking for honest critiques and evaluations, but will take any kind of response!
Thank You |
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Zygfryd

Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Poznan, Poland
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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Since there are dozens of open-source licenses already, you don't really need to write your own one. You could just as well use BSD, MIT or even GPL. There's no stopping you from using different licences for different parts of your code as long as they're compatible. Amending existing licences with specific exceptions is also acceptable.
>> OSI approved licenses |
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Tyche
Joined: 13 May 2005 Posts: 176 Location: Ohio, USA
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: Non-Commercial MUD Licensing |
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kaylus wrote: |
I am looking for honest critiques and evaluations, but will take any kind of response!
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Looks fine. I read it as the right to use, copy, distribute, and create derivative works for non-commerical use with required attribution. If that's your intent then I think you got it right. You might want to confirm the licensing requirements (if any) of Pike applications.
zygfryd wrote: |
Since there are dozens of open-source licenses already, you don't really need to write your own one.
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It's not an open source license. Neither BSD, MIT, GPL or any other license listed at the OSI site would not be appropriate as they all allow commercial use. There is another site that will write a license for you from a list of requirements if you have a non-commercial requirement. See Creative Commons |
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lukeo
Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 2
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Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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Just from a proof reading standpoint, you have put b) twice and missed out c) under part 2.
Code: | a) This LICENSE ...
b) The SOFTWARE ...
b) The original ...
d) Copyright notices ... |
What a positive first post  |
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