I have been maintaining an old addon, SexyReputation, that the original author stopped updating 2.5 years ago. I just host it on my own GitHub account for my own sake. I know there were some rules posted on the old site about not copying addons and continuing work on them, but I can't seem to find that info now.
What is the general practice? Most of my changes up until 7.2 were just tweaks and minor fixes, but now I've added support for the new reward system past exalted reputation, so I was thinking again to make the addon available here. I've tried contacting the previous developer some months ago, but no luck. I have no idea whether they intend to pick it up again, but it seems unlikely after all this time.
It's "All Rights Reserved". So, without the author's permission, you cannot release it. You'll need to write your own from scratch if you want to release something.
Well, Blizzard's addon policy essentially demands they are open source, but it makes sense to not allow a multitude of forks of every addon out there. It clutters the system. Maybe there should be an expiry date on abandoned addons.
I have no intention of rewriting it from scratch at the moment, so I'll just maintain it for myself then.
Never claimed the phrase "open source" was actually in it. Neither did I claim that implies you "could do whatever you like". That is not what open source means. However the policy contains several elements that are typical to open source licenses.
In any case, SexyReputation is a pretty simple and straight forward addon. Maybe I'll write a new one from scratch at some point.
Neither did I claim that implies you "could do whatever you like". That is not what open source means.
Actually, that's exactly what it means.
But in any case, like you said, having copies and copies of the same addons isn't good, it just clutters the system and makes no sense (and mods should not allow them, especially when they're clear copy pastes), so if a project is indeed abandoned AND needs updating (not just to change the TOC) then I think it's pretty much acceptable to take over it, preferably with the author's permission but that's not always something that one can get since many people just "disappear" you'll never get a reply from them.
Neither did I claim that implies you "could do whatever you like". That is not what open source means.
Actually, that's exactly what it means.
Open source means the source is freely accessible. There are still conditions in open source licenses. That's my point. In any case, this is a side track.
But in any case, like you said, having copies and copies of the same addons isn't good, it just clutters the system and makes no sense (and mods should not allow them, especially when they're clear copy pastes), so if a project is indeed abandoned AND needs updating (not just to change the TOC) then I think it's pretty much acceptable to take over it, preferably with the author's permission but that's not always something that one can get since many people just "disappear" you'll never get a reply from them.
Thanks, that's a helpful answer. As I said, the core functionality of this addon is pretty straight forward. It also broke with patch 7.1, and I had to rewrite parts of my local copy to make it work again. Eventually I just wrote a new, simple addon that outputs the relevant info into the chat window. As for the original author, he's never replied to me. Which is why I asked here in the first place.
As I rarely play any more, I won't be spending a lot of time on this. My own little addon is on GitHub, and I will probably leave it there to tinker on whenever I do play. At least I won't make more abandoned clutter here. :)
Neither did I claim that implies you "could do whatever you like". That is not what open source means.
Actually, that's exactly what it means.
But in any case, like you said, having copies and copies of the same addons isn't good, it just clutters the system and makes no sense (and mods should not allow them, especially when they're clear copy pastes), so if a project is indeed abandoned AND needs updating (not just to change the TOC) then I think it's pretty much acceptable to take over it, preferably with the author's permission but that's not always something that one can get since many people just "disappear" you'll never get a reply from them.
You absolutely need the permission. Just because someone abandoned it doesn't mean they automatically relinquish their intelectual property rights on the code they wrote. The same applies to forking, unless the license specifically allows that, it requires explicit permission from the author, no matter if you can read the source files (which is inherently true for all script languages like Lua), or not.
Another factor is if your updated code would qualify as "significantly altered" from the original as to be its own thing by now. If so, then perhaps the "Fair Use" rule may apply. I am not a lawyer, therefore will try to be generic in my answer: modifying the code to stay current with Blizzard's API is not a significant alteration, but if you had to rewrite whole functions (your own code) in response to the Blizzard API changes might qualify.
For example, if the original code crunched 100 lines because PlaySound() up to 7.2.5 expected a string value and suddenly with 7.3 PlaySound() needs a numerical value and you can change the addon code from 100 lines to 10 as a result, then it is a significant change. But simply switching the input from string to number to keep current with PlaySound() is not significant.
In other words, look at your current version of SexyReputation and compare it to the last known version from the orignal author. If the two are very different, then rename the appropriate things (addon name, tweak function names, variables) as much as possible (addon name MUST be changed because it is not SexyReputation anymore) and ask us again. Or release it into the wild.
Hello, and sorry for replying on such an old topic. I couldn't find a FAQ about the forums rules if posting on such old topics is forbidden.
I understand that an addon with All rights reserved should not be copied, but would the moderators allow a copy of an abandon project with small changes to make it functional with the latest patch? I did try to contact the Author about one year ago, and I just send him another message with my new account, but I don't think he cares about the project any more.
I'm also making a similar addon with a more permissive license, but until i'm done with it, since it's also my first time working on a WoW addon, I wouldn't mind giving something functional to other people.
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I have been maintaining an old addon, SexyReputation, that the original author stopped updating 2.5 years ago. I just host it on my own GitHub account for my own sake. I know there were some rules posted on the old site about not copying addons and continuing work on them, but I can't seem to find that info now.
What is the general practice? Most of my changes up until 7.2 were just tweaks and minor fixes, but now I've added support for the new reward system past exalted reputation, so I was thinking again to make the addon available here. I've tried contacting the previous developer some months ago, but no luck. I have no idea whether they intend to pick it up again, but it seems unlikely after all this time.
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Curse PremiumIt's "All Rights Reserved". So, without the author's permission, you cannot release it. You'll need to write your own from scratch if you want to release something.
Well, Blizzard's addon policy essentially demands they are open source, but it makes sense to not allow a multitude of forks of every addon out there. It clutters the system. Maybe there should be an expiry date on abandoned addons.
I have no intention of rewriting it from scratch at the moment, so I'll just maintain it for myself then.
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Curse Premiumhttps://us.battle.net/forums/en/wow/topic/1021053914
The phrase "open source" is not in the policy. Just because you can read the code, doesn't mean you can do whatever you like with it. Same as a book.
Never claimed the phrase "open source" was actually in it. Neither did I claim that implies you "could do whatever you like". That is not what open source means. However the policy contains several elements that are typical to open source licenses.
In any case, SexyReputation is a pretty simple and straight forward addon. Maybe I'll write a new one from scratch at some point.
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Curse PremiumBut in any case, like you said, having copies and copies of the same addons isn't good, it just clutters the system and makes no sense (and mods should not allow them, especially when they're clear copy pastes), so if a project is indeed abandoned AND needs updating (not just to change the TOC) then I think it's pretty much acceptable to take over it, preferably with the author's permission but that's not always something that one can get since many people just "disappear" you'll never get a reply from them.
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Curse PremiumIn reply to Nevcairiel:
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Forum Moderator"preferably with permission" sounds to me like when you can't get it, you should do it anyway, which is a big no.
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Curse PremiumWell, you could do what many other people do, and just write your own version of the addon. I am sure that you could improve upon it.
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Curse Premiumcopyright law usually says that the protection time limits are life of author + 70 years after that.
This time length varies by country but is usually around 50/70 years: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries'_copyright_lengths
The law also applies to "All rights reserved" addons.
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Forum ModeratorAnother factor is if your updated code would qualify as "significantly altered" from the original as to be its own thing by now. If so, then perhaps the "Fair Use" rule may apply. I am not a lawyer, therefore will try to be generic in my answer: modifying the code to stay current with Blizzard's API is not a significant alteration, but if you had to rewrite whole functions (your own code) in response to the Blizzard API changes might qualify.
For example, if the original code crunched 100 lines because PlaySound() up to 7.2.5 expected a string value and suddenly with 7.3 PlaySound() needs a numerical value and you can change the addon code from 100 lines to 10 as a result, then it is a significant change. But simply switching the input from string to number to keep current with PlaySound() is not significant.
In other words, look at your current version of SexyReputation and compare it to the last known version from the orignal author. If the two are very different, then rename the appropriate things (addon name, tweak function names, variables) as much as possible (addon name MUST be changed because it is not SexyReputation anymore) and ask us again. Or release it into the wild.
Hello, and sorry for replying on such an old topic. I couldn't find a FAQ about the forums rules if posting on such old topics is forbidden.
I understand that an addon with All rights reserved should not be copied, but would the moderators allow a copy of an abandon project with small changes to make it functional with the latest patch? I did try to contact the Author about one year ago, and I just send him another message with my new account, but I don't think he cares about the project any more.
I'm also making a similar addon with a more permissive license, but until i'm done with it, since it's also my first time working on a WoW addon, I wouldn't mind giving something functional to other people.