Re: Choosing a Linux development platform

[Michael Dale Long <mlong@custom.net>]

On Sun, 20 Jun 1999, Pedro Medeiros wrote:

>  Hi.
> 
> >Wouldn't creating nearly identical data be a copyright violation?
> 
>  I don't think so. Why would it be nearly identical? Suppose he
>  used common bmp bitmaps and wav files for graphics and
>  music. Why can't someone create an entire different version
>  of them? For instance, an independent artist could put his
>  own music.

I don't care if they go create their own unique game with my free engine,
or I wouldn't GPL it.  I _do_ care if they create a game that has a
similar enough plotline and graphics it discourages people from buying my
game, because they can get virtually exact same thing elsewhere.

> >Besides, if the game uses scripting for plotline, etc, that could be
> >copyrighted differently, since it doesn't link with the game code.
> 
>  Well, but the portion of the code for rendering those file formats
>  will be bundled inside the game. Anyone can create an editor
>  with them.

Same as above.  That's fine as long it's not stepping onto the game's
story line and graphics, which would not be copylefted.

	-Michael