EULA and third-party programs?

Hi. I have a question about this. There's an idea I'd like to see implemented. However, it might involve having a third-party program. The idea is solely for a few UI tweaks - allowing things like a "Do Not Disturb" mode, allowing the user to set an "AFK - <doing this>" message, that sort of thing, and declining all inventory offers when a command is set to 'on'. These would probably have to be done in a third-party UI tweaker (remember Cosmos from WoW, or CTRaid, or some of the AC mods.... and so on?). It would save Linden the trouble of adding the code for these things - and might even give them ideas for it (note how Blizzard has included many of Cosmos' old features in each new UI build, eventually making it obsolete).

My question is this: Is it legal or illegal for people to make such a UI mod, and if legal, what are the precise limitations?

Please note, I'm not a coder, so I couldn't possibly do it myself, but I might be willing to get the team together to _make it happen_ if I find out it's legal and allowed. I think a lot of people would be happy just to have that small bit of extra functionality.

Thanks...

Hi Sevidra,

Sounds like a case of necessity being a mother of invention. First, since you make reference to third-party programs, the important passage to remember is in the Terms of Service, specifically 4.1 License which describes altering the Second Life source code itself.

I'll also let you know I do use macros myself which make certain inworld operations more convenient. For example, I've overriden the Instant Message shortcut to be Ctrl-Space as it's much easier to get to. This in no way interferes with the operation of SL itself, however.

While I don't have a clearer idea--yet--of how exactly what you propose would look like in action, I should also let you know we do have some additional status controls, which've been asked for a long time in the community, and are similar to what you describe.

Actually, what you say sounds like the current (Busy) mode! (WORLD menu ---> SET BUSY.)

I'd also recommend delving deeply and getting to know more Residents about what has done before in the way of things like this--Scripting Tips is a good place to look.

Be well.