ygxj@vax5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU (05/11/89)
Can I get into trouble if I posted a public domain version of Tetrix? I'm just about done porting the unix version to the mac. It'll be a shame if I couldn't distribute it, it's such an addictive game. :) wing ygxj@vax5.cit.cornell.edu ygxj@cornella.bitnet
relkins@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Rob Elkins) (05/12/89)
In article <18590@vax5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU> ygxj@vax5.cit.cornell.edu () writes: >Can I get into trouble if I posted a public domain version >of Tetrix? I'm just about done porting the unix version to the >mac. It'll be a shame if I couldn't distribute it, it's such an >addictive game. :) > No, there is no problem as long as you created your work independently, and without the aid of the spectrum holobyte sources. Also, the game can't have too much of the look and feel of the commerical version, i.e. no background screens, don't use the same patterns for the blocks, ideally, you should have created it without even viewing the spectrum holobyte version. Of course, this is all academic, but basically in order to prove copyright infringement, one must first prove Access to the copyrighted work and in addiation, prove sufficient simularity to the copyrighted work. So, if you could prove that you wrote your version in complete isolation, you would be fine, even if your program duplicated the copyrighted version. Now, I don't want to scare you, I don't think you will have any problem. You will be putting your version in the public domain, thus Spectrum Holobyte will have absolutly no damages against you since you arn't marketing your version. It is extremely difficult to (almost impossible) to get an injunction against something in the public domain, if they even bothered. Don't worry about it, chances are no-one will hasle you, and there are already several PD versions of tetris floating around for several micros including the PC, and they own the copyright on that version too. Rob -- ARPA: relkins@vax1.acs.udel.edu UUCP: ...!uunet!vax1.acs.udel.edu!relkins Damn it Jim, I'm a doctor not a <Insert Occupation Here> I am the NRA.