[Freeciv] Re: copyright infringement

[Tomasz Wegrzanowski <maniek@xxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, Jul 19, 2000 at 01:43:34PM +0200, Reinier Post wrote:
> On Wed, Jul 19, 2000 at 02:34:07AM -0700, Brandon Van Every wrote:
> > How do you guys figure you're getting around Microprose / Hasbro's 
> > copyrights on
> > Civ II and etc?
> 
> This was my first question to the list as well (but the archives do not
> go back that far.)  It comes up every now and then.
> 
>   Sure, you've got your own GUI interface and artwork, but you've
> > completely ripped off the rules for the game.  Rules are copyrightable
> > intellectual property in case you're not aware.
> 
> At least some of us aren't.

TEXT of rules is copyrightable.
MEANING of rules is NOT.

We can't simply cut&paste civ2's ruleset files, but we don't do this anyway.
Nothing prohibits us from making alternative text that has the same meaning.