[Nel] Something I don't understand about the license agreement.

Mon, 19 Feb 2001 19:26:46 -0600

Well, as someone else put it in a private chat... I'm wondering "exactly
+where does their code stop, and my code begin?"
+
+Do I get to keep the coding behind the interaction rules of my game to
+myself?  My skill system, and the way characters develop within the game...
+the way my player housing system, and player governments system is
+handled... is that mine to keep?  I guess a lot of it depends on how I go
+about forming those rules... and that depends on how NeL allows me to build
+my world.
+
+I can understand sharing a new add-on, such as the ability to use DirectX 8
+with NeL... I can understand adding functionality to the core engine... that
+I wouldn't mind giving up to the general masses.  Heck, I don't care if I
+give up the artwork!  What's important to me is keeping my gameplay designs
+proprietary.  I don't want someone copying my game's LOGIC... because to me,
+that's what will make my game innovative, and will be the main reason people
+will play it.  If I give that up freely, I might as well go for a different
+core package.
+
+----- Original Message -----
+From: "Bryce Harrington" <bryce@neptune.net>
+To: <nel@nevrax.org>
+Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 7:12 PM
+Subject: Re: [Nel] Something I don't understand about the license agreement.
+
+
+> If it is important to you to keep your IP closed, then you should use a
+> closed library rather than an open one.  There are many other libraries
+> out there that allow for keeping stuff proprietary, and some of them are
+> quite good.  Some require fees or other charges in return for use of
+> their license.
+>
+> NEL, like other open source things, operates on a share-and-share-alike
+> principle.  Nevrax is being very generous in providing their code
+> openly, so you can see it and use it without having to pay any fees.
+> The one condition that they have asked in return is that you do
+> likewise.  You have to decide for yourself if their price is acceptable,
+> and if so, you're bound to abide by it.  If it isn't, then you should
+> use a different piece of code more to your liking (or write your own).
+>
+> NEL keeps their game _content_ (e.g., artwork) proprietary while
+> releasing their source code; perhaps you could follow that approach as
+> well.  Or else you could strive to compete with other users of your
+> modified code on the basis of name recognition, performance,
+> reliability, and customer service.
+>
+> (This is community service - I'm not associated with NEL in any way, but
+> admire that they are actually making their source code Free.)
+>
+> Bryce
+>
+> On Mon, 19 Feb 2001, Jared Mark wrote:
+>
+> > I just want to make sure I understand this right...
+> >
+> > I use this source code to build the base of my game...
+> > I do all sorts of work to make my own game built around this core
+engine...
+> > I then try to get people to play the game...
+> > People get the game (for free, or at least, for the cost of shipping it,
+but no profit can be made on that...)
+> > I charge for the monthly service to the game, and make boat loads of
+money...
+> >
+> > But then, because of the way this license reads, someone else can
+request the entire source code to my game, set up their own game that's
+exactly like mine, and charge people to use it just like I am doing...
+> >
+> > So if all of the above is correct... what is the point of me making my
+game using NeL in the first place?  When someone can just steal my entire
+game (not just the NeL source, but all of the "derivitive works" that are
+packaged with it as a whole), and run the game service themselves...
+basically, taking me out of the loop entirely.
+> >
+> > If I'm completely off here, I appologise.  I'm extremely new to the
+whole "open source" thing...
+> >
+> > My main concern is that I have a bunch of gameplay concepts that I want
+to implement... having nothing to do with graphical quality, or any sort of
+innovative programming... I have plot, and I have what I consider a "bigger
+and better plan" than anything UO or EQ or AC have ever done... and this
+license is basically saying that I have to give all of THAT stuff up if I
+choose to use NeL as my core code?
+> >
+> > *scratches head*
+> >
+>
+> --
+> Bryce Harrington  ~  ACME General Purpose Hacker / Designer / Rocket
+Scientist
+> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+----
+> SBL SBIRS/Low NPOESS NGST  HarrGene CivII WorldForge Eidetic Circe STAGE
+iMSDW
+> bharrington @ msdw.com     bryce @ neptune.net     bryceharrington @
+yahoo.com
+>
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+>
+
+
+