Exult Forum

Hi all:

Since we have opened a SourceForge account for the translation work, I was considering the legal issues at posting certain development files in the CVS.
Let me explain:
To translate, we take the file "usecode" which is copyrighted and explode it with "rip". The result is lots of uco, machine language only. We then use wud to convert this machine language only into pseudo-assembler. We then translate the .data part which is entirely made of English language phrases.

Once those phrases are translated, we compile the uc files into uco and use "rip" again to recombine the usecode files. We then create a patch from the original and this new usecode and we post the patch.

How legal is it to use CVS to host the .uc, that is, the files we translate ? Are they copyrighted since they are produced out of a copyrighted file or are they NOT copyrighted since they are created by ourselves ?

Please help me resolve the dilemna.

Artaxerxes

I'd say these are copyrighted just by the example of a book. If you translate the book of someone else and save it on your computer. The content is still copyrighted even though you created the text file yourself and translated it yourself.

And with U7 everybody agrees I think that the plot makes the game so special and not the engine (well, shoot me, the engine is special too but you can't do much without a plot). And as that plot is all in the usecode I'd definetly say it's not legal.

If anyone cares is the other question.

BUT if anyone ever decides to take legal action I'd figure that we (exult team) are down the drain as well.

That is in no way intended to stop you

would it be legal to just extract the .data part of the uc and put those in CVS ?

Artaxerxes

Well, I'm not a lawyer and I certainly can't say anything that could be used in a court.

But basicly IMO EVERYTHING containing data from the original could put you in an awkward situation IF someone challenged it.

I don't believe this is illegal, since it's in a new language that was not previously available. However, Dominus has a point, that you would be in an awkward situation if EA decided to bitch about it anyway. But that doesn't
really matter, because if EA bitched about it, you could just take it down and that would be that.

To sum up, go ahead, and if EA complains, then stop.

I can't jeopardize SF who is hosted our files though. I want to do things the legal way....

If one of you guys has an idea, let me know.


Artaxerxes

I think I've got an idea:

what if I made a script/program that takes a uc in parameter and splits the data from the code as in the following:

$ ./ucsplit -s 0034.uc
0034.uc splitted!
$ ls -sr 0034*
0034.uc
0034.uc.code
0034.uc.data
$

I then use CVS to host the 0034.uc.data in French that I made myself.

Whenever we want to create a new patch for usecode, we get all the .uc.data from CVS, and do the following:

$ ./ucsplit -c 0034.uc.data 0034.uc.code
0034.uc combined!
$ ls -sr 0034*
0034.uc.code
0034.uc.data
0034.uc
$

from then we create the usecode file, create the IPS patch and redistribute it for those who do not want to do that themselves.

This way, SF only hosts our hand made files, in clear text, and we just provide the tools so that those who want to make it themselves ARE required to have the full usecode file.

Does that make sense to you?

Artaxerxes

Suraimu:
as I already said, it doesn't matter if it's in another language. It is still the same text. Look at the book example. If you decide to translate a book by your favourite author and then offer it, the content is still copyrighted and the original author would have all the rights to it. You wouldn't be allowed to offer it, otoh the original Author wouldn't have the rights to use your translation as well.

Artaxerxes:
Doesn't make sense to me
But if it does to you, then it's okay though I still think you are not on the perfect legal side.
But please don't let that stop you

it's like distributing a patch with the only difference that it is human readable.

Artaxerxes

Could it be possible that the laws are different in France? Perhaps you could put it on a French site, then.

If I do that, it means I can't host the project on SourceForge!

Artaxerxes

I can't see how a patch that does not contain any part of the file to be patched could possibly be seen as infringement in any country!


-Karl

P.S. I'm not a lawer, either

IMO the only defense that you would have is 1) if you're not making any money from your actions and 2) you could say that EXULT is helping to promote the sale of Ultima from ORIGIN/EA.

Other than that you're pretty much sh*t outta luck because if they really wanted to be assh*les they could do what Blizzard did to the Bnet server clones (which were free non-profit programs) and say that your program is promoting people to pirate and use illegal copies of their program through your software.

Ultimately, even though your actions are honest and sincere, ORIGIN/EA still wears the pants in this.

What the Bnetd team did with Warcraft III and Starcraft was something very different. Their software made it possible to play games on a simulated Battle.net over the Internet, something that usually requires a working CD-key. The CD-key is part of what you pay for when you buy the game, so I understand why Blizzard did it.