deep
as in Deepsea
Posts: 1064
Registered: 09-01 |
The code ... is GPL'd so we're free to use it, regardless of Carmack's comments. He is correct that we can't use or try to emulate the monster graphics.
I never talked about the code, ONLY the graphics. Repixelating the graphics to make a "new" imp is what the subject is. And indeed you are "emulating" the monster graphics by offering "replacements" for same. Look up -emulate- on dictionary.com for reference. Did you unintentionally(?) talk yourself out of being able to do sprites?
No. PWADs are designed to work with the IWAD. When id legitimised level editing back in, what, '93
First off, they had NO CONTROL over level editing, since the copyright of the editors was NOT theirs to control. They knew that and then spun it around as if they were ok with it. There was nothing they could have done about it, all smoke and mirrors - LOL. I even sent a copy to Romero back then - no problem.
Secondly, if I made a PWAD with exactly the same elements as the "IWAD" then it will "replace" the IWAD. The key is the CONTENT, not some technical quibble over P vs I, that's what the legal aspects are about - content.
For the record I believe they are a problem, and argued so on IRC when the project was formed. I argued for a much more cautious approach, with a different palette, textures names and everything...
Well, as far as the content/drawing of a texture, that is 100% safe. No need to worry. Any -original- art is safe. The palette is not a problem, but the corresponding COLORMAP could be.
I KNOW the palette is not an issue since I published CD QUAKE levels using their palette and I even had an exchange with id's legal on putting replacement textures in existing BSPs. They would have said something if they thought they could:)
The COLORMAP is more interesting. Could be it falls into the same thing as the palette. Changing a "few" numbers is not enough to overcome a copyright problem. That's like recoloring a graphic - which also violates a copyright because the issue is pixel placement, not color.
With the exception that trademarks are different to copyright
I already explained this. A "mark" is very specific. FREEDOOM and DOOM are just not the SAME. Doom is an ENGLISH word and you cannot trademark a common word as a word and exclude it from use in other trademarks or for that matter a common saying.
Look at the history of the DOOM trademark and see how they got rejected:
http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=74338782
Pure money at work here. They finally got someone who for whatever reason let it get by. Btw, I believe they trademarked the Logo DOOM in graphics words, not the words per se.
Here's an example I was involved in: A company wanted to trademark "Here's Help" and "Unleash the Power". They failed. And they didn't want to spend any more money.
QUAKE has similar problems, since it's a common word too. Look at the number of "marks" that have QUAKE - each is a different "logo of letters".
Now, if DOOM is such a precious "trademark" that can't be combined with other words, how do ZDOOM, JDOOM and all those other ports manage to do that?
From the "not defend" pov, then they have lost it before they began. From that I conclude id doesn't care about FREEDOOM (the name), since that is distinctly different from DOOM, DOOM II, FINAL DOOM and DOOM III (even assuming we are discussing "words" and not "marks"). Id might care about the total content though:)
One needs to give supporting evidence in a debate, not just "opinion" - IOW give factual background.
A trademark is very specific and not global as some seem to think. Many trademarks have "parts of" other trademark names. Like I said before, if it was not that way pretty soon nothing would be left.
I've given examples showing that word combinations are legit, even if they include "part of" a trademarked word. So I could make a game called DOOMCITY and it would be safe.
Btw, how many levels use the word DOOM? Another interesting example of how (using the "defense" argument) they let that slide by for all these years. But they didn't really let it slide by. The reason they exist is that they don't infringe on the trademark DOOM (as submitted), e.g. DOOM3057.
P.S. if you still want to argue "PWAD", then make it a PWAD and write a little proggie than makes the I a P<g>. Not even sure if DOOM cares, need to check that out.
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