Builds using other people's tools, scripts

Lets say I dream up an object- a 10 headed blue flamingo from Mars, for example.

As I build it, I utilize a tool created by someone else- or Cadroe Murphy's shape maker tool, for example

How should I credit Cadroe (or whomever) in the build. Should I add the name in the discription? If I put it for sale, should I give him a percentage of the profit?

Let's not forget the opposite problem! What about too much credit? People using my BVH importer, 3D importer, or Prim Mirror out-of-the-box end up giving me credit for what they built! While I'm flattered, I don't want my name on objects I didn't create, and frankly, don't endorse!

Yikes!

Good point, Jeffrey.
That could get ugly, depending on the whims of the builder.

I had been wondering this myself.

I'm working on some prefabs I'd like to sell, and I've been including doors utilizing the lockable door script by Meiyo Sojourner that was listed in the scripting forums.

My planned compliance with the free-to-distribute nature of the script includes setting up a seperate vendor that can distribute the scripted doors for free, and documentation included with the prefabs. Also the permissions on the scripted door itself will be copy/mod/transfer.

I dropped an IM to Meiyo a few weeks ago regarding including doors created with his script in my homes, but I haven't gotten a reply.

(Meiyo's script includes a message when the door is rezzed that the script is a free-to-distribute version, and to contact Meiyo if you paid for it. My efforts are going towards trying to ensure that people understand that I'm including this door for free with the purchase of my prefab homes. And I'm creating the door and textures myself - only the script was created by someone else.)

Does this sound like I've covered my bases enough? Feedback would be appreciated before I actually start selling.

Classic case-in-point: "Steller Sunshine's" slime drones. I say that in quotes because she didn't mod them into the annoying squeaky-squeaky replicators that have troubled numerous Residents, yet she is unfairly blamed. Yet, the roots are traced back to her.

For me, if I had a good relationship with the original creator of a tool I used to help me make my end product (which often tends to be the case with the way I am...), I would at the very least acknowledge the source and give credit where credit is due. Otherwise, that's dismissive of the "chain of creators". If the original product was an open-source one or available for free or had other specific rights attached to them, then I would follow those appropriately, and ask for clarification when necessary.

Percentages of profit out of goodwill can be a very welcome and rewarding thing, but it depends on maker of said thingie. Some peeps just love to see their stuff take on new life in Second Life and aren't doggedly after the monai.

Interesting question, Olympia.

I've received several IMs complimenting me for my work on builds I've never heard of. I let the person know that someone must have used ShapeMaker and that the creator tag was misleading.

I don't want credit for the builds. Sure, if someone feels like going out of their way to say my tool was helpful, that's cool. But unless the build consists of nothing but a large untextured sphere, I don't feel like I deserve the credit. I certainly don't want any money. I think any tool maker would have to say very clearly up front that they wanted a piece of profits. I'm not sending Adobe or Discreet any money!

Maybe there's a technical solution. For instance, if llRezObject() had a flag that caused the current script owner to be set as the creator on the rezzed object. That way when I gave someone ShapeMaker, they would automatically show up as the creator on the objects it makes. In the meantime, I encourage people to try replacing the box prim inside with one of their own (with the same name and with the same script copied into it); maybe that would do the trick.

That's very generous of you, Cadroe.