Am i allowed to sell it?

Hi all,

I made a complete translation of all viewer menu's etc. into my native language. It is not a supported language. Now I have some questions I could not get answered in the Wiki or Helpfiles.

Q1: Am i allowed to sell the translation as an add-on for the Viewer?

Q2: With the aid of a small installer I made it possible to insert the translation into the viewer. Can I sell the installer ?

! Q1 and Q2 relate to the "Open Source" subject I guess.
I have no idea what troubles I might find, if any, when I offer this for sale.

Q3: Am I alone in this or can I join/contribute to some sort of team? Anyone working on this "skinning" project" ?
wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Skinning#Enable_Packaging_and_Resident_customizations


Reminder: English is not my native Language, excuse me if any mistakes occured here.

Regards,
Danielle.

I don't think you'll be allowed to sell it, but you might be able to submit it as an open source project for inclusion into a future viewer version.

I think you could make a charge for the compiled binary, but that doesn't alter the fact that you _must_ make the modified source code available so that anybody can freely download and compile it for themselves.

No, it is not an alternative viewer. Its a translation of all (164 !) XML files.
There is no Binary code involved. Its an add-on.

Fairly sure you can't sell it. It's still a derivative of LL's work.

The easy way to find out for sure is to put it up for sale and see if anyone in authority objects. If they do, then you can negotiate something that works.

Of course, I can't stress enough how this is not a good way to go about it.

why not send an email to support and ask linden lab themselves if you can sell it...

Its how most progress in this world is accomplished.

If everyone waited for the "correct" answer on if something was OK to do we would still be living in caves and hunting our food with with clubs.

Progress comes from doing or trying, not debating.

Nice bit of hyperbole there.

Ya know the whole "It's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission" mindset? Yeah, it's a load of bunk.

Exactly my idea.
That is why I made the translation first and then asked the questions here.

I'll first distribute the files to my customers as an incentive. If I get shot by LL, I'll let you know.

Thnx for the replies.
Regards, Danielle.

Really think i'll get an usable answer soon ?

Oh I see. Isn't it more of a 'mod' than an add-on then? Mod being a modification of existing code. Add-on being an additional file(s) which compliment the main.

I see where Reitsuiki gets 'derivative' from now.

Pretty sure you can't sell that.

as far as i know, language files are not an addon but modification and may not be resold as the source is from the viewer wich is GPL

u may give it out for free and add ur name to the credit list tho

If everyone always did what they wanted, without regard for other people or what is right and wrong, we never would have developed the civilization that allowed us to come out of the caves.

true, but with LL, better safe then sorry and get ask trough email/support so it`s written down it may be sold or not

Oké, no moneymaker then hè?

But to get the terms right:

I added another directory to the Secondlife programs folder and copied all existing language files from /de to it.
Then I made the modifications to these files.
In the preferences window I can select my own language.

So: add-on or modification? Modified add-on? I'll call it "Custom made".


Regards.

.. er .. not if you get perma-banned you won't

Primary customer would be LL themselves.

Why don't you send them an inquiry, and see if they'd like to buy the translation from you?

Better do it before you distribute copies to others, though...

There always has to be a sense of responsibility attached to doing or trying. Being timid and debating things to death doesn't accomplish anything.

I don't think that creating a new interpretation is exactly in the same league as creating new ways of killing each other, which we seem do do without any thought or consideration of consequences.

Have we built a civilization? We seen to be real quick to kill each other over money. If we are so civilized why do so many of us carry guns? Oops, getting off track here.

I still think that Danielle is doing something of benefit and should go ahead and implement. If LL notices, then maybe they can come to some sort of agreement especially if it helps sl. Chances are they won't even care, or at least wouldn't have if we hadn't been debating it.

Well, it did cross my mind, but then again: I have searched the WIKI first and found that they will not be interested because of these:


>> Linden Lab sincerely appreciates Resident interest in translating Second Life's user interface and in helping to support the growing International community of Second Life. We've been working on figuring out the best way to incorporate Resident translation work and share it with the rest of the community.

But somewhere down below it says:

>>Feel free to create a new translation [...] when doing so, please keep in mind that we will not be able to prioritize your submission, but that posting it to the public JIRA may allow you to share your strings with other community members interested in sponsoring or contributing to your localized client.

and..

>>Once you complete your translation, please post it to the public JIRA

So I followed that link and found that

>>Note that since this is a beta, some things might not work as expected. Additionally, this is also not (yet) the preferred channel for filing most issues; if you want to make sure your issue is addressed in a timely manner, use one of the other methods.

Oké, not the "preferred channel"? Meaning? Post it, but not here, go somewhere else?

Then another link:
>>We recommend holding tight and waiting for the upcoming Skinning project to be completed. When this project is complete, you will be able to host your own translation without fear of losing your hard work when updates come around...

So I started this thread with another question: anyone working on this skinning project? No leads or links found there.

My recommendation would be,

-Do NOT post your translation to the public JIRA. Doing so would be tantamount to putting it in the public domain, and GIVING it to LL for free.

-Send LL a registered letter. Snail mail, not anything electronic. Address it to Philip Rosedale. What the hey, might as well go all the way to the top.

-In your letter, explain that you have completed a translation of the SL UI into the XXXX language. Explain that it's ready to be incorporated into the multinational viewer options with minimal testing. Give an estimate of how many additional new Residents this option could bring to SL. Include a sample screen shot of the UI.

-Offer the complete package, all rights, for sale to LL. Name your price.

-Give them an expiration date by which they must respond in order to take advantage of your offer.

-Include all your contact info, and offer to meet with them, by phone or in person, to discuss the matter.

I can't guarantee that this approach would work. But it's what I'd do, if I had an item like yours.

strangely enough I do get reasonably quick answers (day or 2 maybe)

WOW, what's your role in SL, Laywer? Must think about this advice.

I must admid, I haven't tried that one yet.

Still hoping someone working on the Skinning project will answer my call.....anyone?