Second Life Forums Archive - Ethics of Free To Copy

jester Knox

Sculpter of Water

Join date: 22 Apr 2004

Posts: 204

11-18-2004 17:33

many people throughout SL have made many freebies. these are great ways for people to get started. both to have items and to learn from. free to copy stuff is great to tear apart and see how it was made and ho the scripts work.

however what are the ethics involved in using someone else's prims that were free to copy as part of one's own build?

what about if you are planning to sell the finished product?

does one need the creator's permission or did they give it when making it free to copy?

I just started working on that i could model myself, or save allot of time just modifying a free to copy item i have, and if its right to use it if i'm modifying it how far from the original does it have to be?

_____________________

people tell me my fountains are cool, come check them out at JesAma Fountains, Alviso (190,45) or if you arent in SL try Gigas (secondserver.net) or SLBoutique to shop for my products.

Juro Kothari

Like a dog on a bone

Join date: 4 Sep 2003

Posts: 4,418

11-18-2004 17:51

Probably the best approach is to talk directly with the original creator. Some people may not mind if you sold it.

In general, most 'free' content creators wish the content to remain 'free' to the community, but there are acceptions, so check with the original creator.

Olympia Rebus

Muse of Chaos

Join date: 22 Feb 2004

Posts: 1,831

11-18-2004 17:58

I suspect you'll get a variety of answers, Jester. As someone who's made some free to copy and modify stuff myself, I think it's best that you get the permission of the original builder before you resell anything (or display it as your own creation).

_____________________

Siggy Romulus

DILLIGAF

Join date: 22 Sep 2003

Posts: 5,711

11-18-2004 17:59

From: jester Knox

I just started working on that i could model myself, or save allot of time just modifying a free to copy item i have, and if its right to use it if i'm modifying it how far from the original does it have to be?

The answer is : Ask the creator of the object.. if you read up on derivative works you'll find out that the 'if I change it enough...' is a myth. So if the work in question has no licence and you want to be 100% on the up and up, just IM the creator of the item.

I have no qualms with people modifying - expanding - and reselling derivative works of my freebies... provided that it in some way expands, or adds value to it.

Example:

SuperHottub 1.1

Slapping a different texture on it and reselling for $500 -- not adding value.
Ripping apart and using the base objects to power a sauna room -- Definately adding value, and expanding.

_____________________

The Second Life forums are living proof as to why it's illegal for people to have sex with farm animals.

From: Jesse Linden

I, for one, am highly un-helped by this thread

Devlin Gallant

Thought Police

Join date: 18 Jun 2003

Posts: 5,948

11-18-2004 23:49

From: Siggy Romulus

The answer is : Ask the creator of the object.. if you read up on derivative works you'll find out that the 'if I change it enough...' is a myth. So if the work in question has no licence and you want to be 100% on the up and up, just IM the creator of the item.

I have no qualms with people modifying - expanding - and reselling derivative works of my freebies... provided that it in some way expands, or adds value to it.

Example:

SuperHottub 1.1

Slapping a different texture on it and reselling for $500 -- not adding value.
Ripping apart and using the base objects to power a sauna room -- Definately adding value, and expanding.

I used some Linden prims that were part of a couch, to make a nice sectional. I hope they didn't mind.

_____________________

I LIKE children, I've just never been able to finish a whole one.

Eggy Lippmann

Wiktator

Join date: 1 May 2003

Posts: 7,939

11-18-2004 23:55

In many cases you will be able to "get away" with this sort of thing because some freebies are really really old and their creators arent even playing SL anymore.
It's best to ask, of course. But I would have to agree with Siggy there.
I would definitely mind if you sold something I give away for free. Well, I dont mind personally, I just think people who buy it will be conned out of money they could use for something else.
If you do make a derivative work of substantial added value, I think it would be polite to at least send the original creator a free copy and give them credit for the original system somewhere

_____________________

Help us document Second Life history at http://slhistory.org!

Carnildo Greenacre

Flight Engineer

Join date: 15 Nov 2003

Posts: 1,044

11-19-2004 00:10

If I make one of my scripts free-to-copy, and I don't put a copyright notice on it, it's in the public domain. Do whatever you want with it.

_____________________

perl -le '$_ = 1; (1 x $_) !~ /^(11+)\1+$/ && print while $_++;'

Ethics of Free To Copy
jester Knox Sculpter of Water Join date: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 204	11-18-2004 17:33 many people throughout SL have made many freebies. these are great ways for people to get started. both to have items and to learn from. free to copy stuff is great to tear apart and see how it was made and ho the scripts work. however what are the ethics involved in using someone else's prims that were free to copy as part of one's own build? what about if you are planning to sell the finished product? does one need the creator's permission or did they give it when making it free to copy? I just started working on that i could model myself, or save allot of time just modifying a free to copy item i have, and if its right to use it if i'm modifying it how far from the original does it have to be? _____________________ people tell me my fountains are cool, come check them out at JesAma Fountains, Alviso (190,45) or if you arent in SL try Gigas (secondserver.net) or SLBoutique to shop for my products.
Juro Kothari Like a dog on a bone Join date: 4 Sep 2003 Posts: 4,418	11-18-2004 17:51 Probably the best approach is to talk directly with the original creator. Some people may not mind if you sold it. In general, most 'free' content creators wish the content to remain 'free' to the community, but there are acceptions, so check with the original creator.
Olympia Rebus Muse of Chaos Join date: 22 Feb 2004 Posts: 1,831	11-18-2004 17:58 I suspect you'll get a variety of answers, Jester. As someone who's made some free to copy and modify stuff myself, I think it's best that you get the permission of the original builder before you resell anything (or display it as your own creation). _____________________
Siggy Romulus DILLIGAF Join date: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 5,711	11-18-2004 17:59 From: jester Knox I just started working on that i could model myself, or save allot of time just modifying a free to copy item i have, and if its right to use it if i'm modifying it how far from the original does it have to be? The answer is : Ask the creator of the object.. if you read up on derivative works you'll find out that the 'if I change it enough...' is a myth. So if the work in question has no licence and you want to be 100% on the up and up, just IM the creator of the item. I have no qualms with people modifying - expanding - and reselling derivative works of my freebies... provided that it in some way expands, or adds value to it. Example: SuperHottub 1.1 Slapping a different texture on it and reselling for $500 -- not adding value. Ripping apart and using the base objects to power a sauna room -- Definately adding value, and expanding. _____________________ The Second Life forums are living proof as to why it's illegal for people to have sex with farm animals. From: Jesse Linden I, for one, am highly un-helped by this thread
Devlin Gallant Thought Police Join date: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 5,948	11-18-2004 23:49 From: Siggy Romulus The answer is : Ask the creator of the object.. if you read up on derivative works you'll find out that the 'if I change it enough...' is a myth. So if the work in question has no licence and you want to be 100% on the up and up, just IM the creator of the item. I have no qualms with people modifying - expanding - and reselling derivative works of my freebies... provided that it in some way expands, or adds value to it. Example: SuperHottub 1.1 Slapping a different texture on it and reselling for $500 -- not adding value. Ripping apart and using the base objects to power a sauna room -- Definately adding value, and expanding. I used some Linden prims that were part of a couch, to make a nice sectional. I hope they didn't mind. _____________________ I LIKE children, I've just never been able to finish a whole one.
Eggy Lippmann Wiktator Join date: 1 May 2003 Posts: 7,939	11-18-2004 23:55 In many cases you will be able to "get away" with this sort of thing because some freebies are really really old and their creators arent even playing SL anymore. It's best to ask, of course. But I would have to agree with Siggy there. I would definitely mind if you sold something I give away for free. Well, I dont mind personally, I just think people who buy it will be conned out of money they could use for something else. If you do make a derivative work of substantial added value, I think it would be polite to at least send the original creator a free copy and give them credit for the original system somewhere _____________________ Help us document Second Life history at http://slhistory.org!
Carnildo Greenacre Flight Engineer Join date: 15 Nov 2003 Posts: 1,044	11-19-2004 00:10 If I make one of my scripts free-to-copy, and I don't put a copyright notice on it, it's in the public domain. Do whatever you want with it. _____________________ perl -le '$_ = 1; (1 x $_) !~ /^(11+)\1+$/ && print while $_++;'

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Ethics of Free To Copy