Legal Issues

Xanferious · 05-12-2002, 08:24 PM

Is it within the legal right to charge people off the ROM codebase?
let me better define my question, if a mud allowed 1 free account to a person but charged an extra 5.00 a month to have unlimited account's is it legal? or would it still be breaking the rom license?

KaVir · 05-12-2002, 08:54 PM

Such activity is prohibited by the license.

Xanferious · 05-12-2002, 10:01 PM

so if someone wanted to do that they would need the creators of ROM to give them permission?

Darrik · 05-13-2002, 09:39 AM

I believe that restriction began with the Diku crew. I believe ROM is Diku/Merc/ROM... so to be given permission to open a pay-for-play mud, you would need to get permission from the creators of each codebase. Which, I believe, is not possible, since a couple have left the online community.

Darrik Vequir

Xanferious · 05-13-2002, 05:56 PM

i see but its still free to play, but just limited to 1 account, thats still breaking the licence?

KaVir · 05-13-2002, 06:02 PM

Yes, if you are making money then it is still breaking the license.

Xanferious · 05-13-2002, 07:20 PM

thanks for your help

Brianna · 05-14-2002, 12:11 PM

I feel some pertinent information must be missing. Where law is concerned I know there is a lot of grey areas, nothing is straight black and white.

What if the admins of the mud bought the license, would it still be illegal for them to charge for play? Before I would say yes or no, I think more background facts should be provided.

I am no legal eagle but I think I recall seeing something about having to purchase the license in order to run a pay-to-play mud on the ROM codebase. I could be mistaken, and please, no flames, I am merely trying to understand things.

KaVir · 05-14-2002, 12:25 PM

There is only one license for DikuMUD, and it prevents you from making money. Merc is a derivative of Diku. ROM is a derivative of Merc. If you run a ROM, you cannot profit from it.

Brianna · 05-14-2002, 04:06 PM

Thank I wasn't sure and I figured I would clear up my misconceptions.. Thanks!

KaVir · 05-14-2002, 04:34 PM

By the way, there is also a DikuII (aka "Valhalla") which DOES have a commercial license. However there are no Merc (let alone ROM) derivatives based on it, and the license itself only applies to DikuII.

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05-12-2002, 08:24 PM	#1
Xanferious Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The Void Posts: 490	Is it within the legal right to charge people off the ROM codebase? let me better define my question, if a mud allowed 1 free account to a person but charged an extra 5.00 a month to have unlimited account's is it legal? or would it still be breaking the rom license?

05-12-2002, 08:54 PM	#2
KaVir Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Name: Richard Location: München Home MUD: God Wars II Posts: 1,518	Such activity is prohibited by the license.

05-12-2002, 10:01 PM	#3
Xanferious Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The Void Posts: 490	so if someone wanted to do that they would need the creators of ROM to give them permission?

05-13-2002, 09:39 AM	#4
Darrik New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 25	I believe that restriction began with the Diku crew. I believe ROM is Diku/Merc/ROM... so to be given permission to open a pay-for-play mud, you would need to get permission from the creators of each codebase. Which, I believe, is not possible, since a couple have left the online community. Darrik Vequir

05-13-2002, 05:56 PM	#5
Xanferious Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The Void Posts: 490	i see but its still free to play, but just limited to 1 account, thats still breaking the licence?

05-13-2002, 06:02 PM	#6
KaVir Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Name: Richard Location: München Home MUD: God Wars II Posts: 1,518	Yes, if you are making money then it is still breaking the license.

05-13-2002, 07:20 PM	#7
Xanferious Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The Void Posts: 490	thanks for your help

05-14-2002, 12:11 PM	#8
Brianna Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Bel Air, MD USA Posts: 81	I feel some pertinent information must be missing. Where law is concerned I know there is a lot of grey areas, nothing is straight black and white. What if the admins of the mud bought the license, would it still be illegal for them to charge for play? Before I would say yes or no, I think more background facts should be provided. I am no legal eagle but I think I recall seeing something about having to purchase the license in order to run a pay-to-play mud on the ROM codebase. I could be mistaken, and please, no flames, I am merely trying to understand things.

05-14-2002, 12:25 PM	#9
KaVir Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Name: Richard Location: München Home MUD: God Wars II Posts: 1,518	There is only one license for DikuMUD, and it prevents you from making money. Merc is a derivative of Diku. ROM is a derivative of Merc. If you run a ROM, you cannot profit from it.

05-14-2002, 04:06 PM	#10
Brianna Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Bel Air, MD USA Posts: 81	Thank I wasn't sure and I figured I would clear up my misconceptions.. Thanks!

05-14-2002, 04:34 PM	#11
KaVir Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Name: Richard Location: München Home MUD: God Wars II Posts: 1,518	By the way, there is also a DikuII (aka "Valhalla") which DOES have a commercial license. However there are no Merc (let alone ROM) derivatives based on it, and the license itself only applies to DikuII.

Legal Issues

Legal Question?