May 30, 2011, 12:25pm, helpme wrote:OK, Matan you are wrong. I could basically remake MB, just so long as I didn't use any assets from MB. So if I wrote all of the code, and created all of the art and sounds and levels and everything else, it would be legal, even if it was basically MB...
It is however illegal to decompile MB.
Oh really? Because according to the license agreement:
Quote:MARBLEBLAST
End User License Agreement (EULA)
This Software Licensing Agreement (Agreement) is a legal agreement between you and
GarageGames.com, Inc. (´GarageGames´). These are the only terms by which GarageGames permits
any use of the Software.
GarageGames Licensing Agreement for Marble Blast.
1. The Software.
The Software licensed under this Agreement is the computer program entitled ´Marble Blast´,
which consists of executable files, data files, and documentation.
2. Grant of License.
GarageGames grants you the nontransferable, nonexclusive right to use the Software in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
YOU MAY: (i) load the software into RAM as well as install it on a hard disk or other
storage device, and (ii) make one copy for backup purposes.
YOU MAY NOT: modify, translate, disassemble, reverse engineer, decompile, or create
derivative works based upon the Software.
Generally, the first three MAY NOT conditions you aren't going to be prosecuted for (for example, research about the DRM US court decisions that allow you to break drm for your personal use) let alone be found out, but that last condition (create derivative works) is not uncommon to be the basis for you getting your behind sued for a lot of money.
I stand corrected, it would have to be different enough to qualify for it's own copyright, or else it would be a derivative work Unfortunately it is completely unclear how different it would need to be to not be a derivative work.In fact it would be all up to IAC and whether or not they considered it a derivative work. If they wanted to get all legal on you, there isn't much you could do, even if you were right. They have the resources to hire lawyers and all that...
Now I am not sure how mods fit into this, I believe that they would be considered derivative works, so IDK. Maybe they are illegal but nobody bothers to go after them because, well, who cares.