Subject:
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Re: A new Program ( PC-Lego ) a front end for Mlcad, l3p, ldview and more.
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.cad
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Date:
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Wed, 16 Aug 2000 05:19:47 GMT
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Viewed:
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692 times
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In lugnet.cad, Nicholas Fezie writes:
> In lugnet.cad, Eduardo Vazquez writes:
> > Finaly I made it my own freeware program may be I need help with this front
> > end called PC-Lego.
> >
> > Oh do u need to change the name of this program becouse of the copyright • thing?
> >
> > Web: go.to/evh
> > e-mail: eduardov@activanet.es
>
> This sounds pretty cool. I know I would like a front end for l3p so that I
> don't have to enter dos commands. I don't know if you should include Mlcad in
> there though. I think it can stand on its own (also a possibility for
> ldview). But the rest sounds good. As for the copyright issue, I don't think
> there would be a huge problem as long as you got permission from the authors
> of those programs (a simple e-mail to each should suffice, just make sure to
> tell them what your program is in the message) and made sure to feature their
> names prominently in their individual program. I also think (I'm probably
> really wrong on this) that a lot of these programs aren't "officially"
> copyrighted, but I don't think it would be a good thing to make the creators
> of these programs mad by not getting their permission first.
>
> Good luck with this promising program!
> -Nick
I believe the "copyright thing" refers to the name "PC-Lego". And my opinion
would be Yes, change the name. Having the word "Lego" in the title of the
program could conceivably cause confusion as to whether the program is an
official Lego company product or not. Something that should be avoided.
Use of the name "Lego" in the title is almost guaranteed to get a response
from TLG asking that you cease and desist use of their tradename. As is their
right to do so, and something that I fully agree with and support.
So you might as well change it now.
Notice that none of the other programs use the word "Lego" in their titles -
that way we don't raise the hackles of the TLG lawyers. :-)
Sure, we know and they know what the programs are for, we just don't try to
blatantly state it in the program titles.
As for the other programs that this program acts as a frontend for; yes they
are copyrighted. By the very definition of copyrights they are copyrighted.
They are the intellectual property of their respective authors, the concept of
copyright is essentially automatic.
But if all this program does is act as a frontend or launcher for those other
programs, and doesn't actually incorporate their code within its own code,
then it would not be violating any copyrights. A frontend or launcher could
be thought of as acting in a similar manner as a menu system.
A case in point is LDraw Add-On (LDAO). At its core, LDAO is basically a
frontend for LDraw, and can act as a frontend for several other programs -
though it has expanded its role into much more than a frontend.
So getting the permission of those authors would not be required. As a common
courtesy, it would be nice to contact them and let them know your plans. But
doing so is not required, so long as the frontend does not hide or attempt to
hide or alter the program that is running in such a way as to conceal the true
origin or identity of the program it is running - unless the author of the
program has given you explicit permission to do so.
Contacting the authors might even result in helping you to integrate their
program into the frontend so everything works smoothly.
Doesn't ever hurt to be polite and seek their opinions.
Additionally, one of the concepts of LDraw is the extension of the program and
parts files. Programs and utilities that use LDraw or it's parts are
explicity encouraged, and as a rule, we want these programs to be free.
Keeping them freeware is important in order to not upset TLG.
Summary:
- Change the name.
- Contact the other authors as a matter of courtesy.
- Keep it free.
- Play Well.
-- Terry K --
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