Ethical issues...

[Lunar2]

(I want clear, definitive answers, please, so I don't make this mistake again)

I am in the process of developing a 0.8.2 MP map. It apparently has gotten popular enough that people are observing, making a savegame, and starting their own game with it! (Aliases doing it today alone include phantom, phantom2, MadMax, ummu, striker, just that I know about!) As my map is a good deal from complete, yet has features enough to be playable, I would like to keep it to myself until it's progressed to release. Apparently, this gets me accused of "not wanting to share", a "perfectionist", a "jerk", and a few profanities that dont belong here.

What rights, if any, do I have in stopping the thievery of my maps in the beta stage? If I have none, all of my open beta testing will cease on the devsrv and I'll move to a private server.

[Edit] MadMax has recanted, consider him off my list

[quartex]

This is an open source project. Check the note at the top of the arts forum. Theoretically everything you contribute falls under the GPL, unless you explicityly say it is just a demonstration version. I suppose that would cover beta versions of maps. But really I don't think there is much you can do to keep random people from copying and spreading your map. My suggestion is to beta test it with select people until you are ready to release a final version. When you do it will be so much better than the copied beta versions that yours will become the standard.

I don't know the specifics, but my feeling is that it is hard to contribute to an open-source project where everyone is working off each other, and then try to hang onto your intellectual property. If someone likes your development map, why can't they edit it and make their own version? Technically anyone is free to edit and release their own version of Wesnoth.

[Lunar2]

I understand that concept, my only thing is: Why can't they just wait until I consider it a complete product? I don't get why people have to harass me for an unfinished map...

[scott]

You are free to copyright any work or creation you contribute (or don't contribute) to the game. You have legal recourse under US and international law to prosecute anyone who disregards the copyright, provided you furnish adequate and unambiguous notice to anyone who has access to your work.

Right at the top...
http://www.wesnoth.org/faq.htm

However, I wouldn't expect anyone here to enforce your copyright unless you plan on paying them legal fees.

[Lunar2]

From said FAQ:

"What license is the game distributed under?
The project is distributed under the GPL. All contributors retain copyright on the portions of the project that they contribute."

Would this mean that until I give up copyright on a work, I have sole rights to it?

[scott]

I would like to keep it to myself until it's progressed to release

Then you should keep it to yourself.

[scott]

From said FAQ:

"What license is the game distributed under?
The project is distributed under the GPL. All contributors retain copyright on the portions of the project that they contribute."

Would this mean that until I give up copyright on a work, I have sole rights to it?

Yes. Go pay $4000 for a lawyer over a stupid multiplayer map.

[quartex]

The reason people won't respect your right as a map creator is because they are being a mean and rude. One option is to publize their names and openly attack them for their conduct, which you have done in the scenario and campaign development forum. Trying to follow legal remedies over a multiplayer map is probably a huge waste of money. They may not even be in the same country as you. It's sad that they have stolen your map and claimed it as their own (or threatened to). But next time you should be more careful about who you beta test your maps with while they are still in development.

[Lunar2]

Fair enough, thanks for your help.

[Ummu]

I am pissed off that I am denounced to be a map stealer, as I only asked to have the map sent to me.

[Lunar2]

I believe I clarified that in my other thread...

[Ummu]

Err, Yeah. You clarified you misunderstood our whole chat.

[Lunar2]

And you quoted a very insignificant portion of that chat, to do what? Confuse me?

[Lunar2]

As things stand:

- My open betas will cease for all current works in progress
- Any future works may be conducted via closed beta
- Ummu can argue all he wants, but his intent was obvious...trying to prove to me that my work is open to all...you can thank him for his attitude in this matter.

[Ummu]

I said you should get into the GPL'ed spirit.... Why are you pulling rabbits out of a babies butt instead of a hat like everybody else?

I have heard that Dave gets a log of everything said in the chat... If he has time, he could solve this right away. I'm sure you will agree that will be best.