[Freeciv] Re: copyright infringement

["Bobby D. Bryant" <bdbryant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Stan Shebs wrote:

> Tomasz Wegrzanowski wrote:
> >
> > 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.
>
> If it were that simple, then it wouldn't be possible for the Tolkien
> Estate to license LotR characters and settings to some game makers
> and forbid others to use them in games.  This can get really fine-grained,
> for instance Silmarillion characters are not so restricted.

Is that actually a copyright issue, or are the LotR characters deemed to be
trademarks?


> Short-term, I don't think all this is much of a problem; but the best
> long-term strategy would be to continue to engine-ify FreeCiv
> and isolate all the Civ1/2 clone bits into separate files, so if it
> ever becomes an issue, you can remove them from the main package
> without disrupting development.

Yes -- a very good idea, and fortunately a trend that is well under way.

Bobby Bryant
Austin, Texas