Subject:
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Re: Official model repository situation
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw
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Date:
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Fri, 23 Feb 2001 04:05:48 GMT
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Viewed:
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1186 times
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[disclaimer: I am not a lawyer]
In lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw, Ryan Farrington writes:
> Todd Lehman wrote:
> > In lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw, Ryan Farrington writes:
> > > Should the OMR have a similar restriction?
> > What would that mean for Star Wars scenes?
> [...]
> In a way, making .dat files of official models is copying instructions, or
> rather the idea behind the printed matter, namely, "this is how you build
> this model."
It's very different. Copying instructions is copying instructions. Copying
.DAT files is copying text files that list parts with x,y,z coordinates and
orientations.
> Though technically, instructions from decades ago may still be
> under copyright, there probably is no way to really obtain the "permission
> of the publisher," to learn how to build the sets. Therefore, I see no harm
> in distributing "How To Build This Model" (whether by means of scanned
> instructions or in the form of .dat files) for sets no longer sold by the
> Lego company.
A copyright 20 years old may be as valid as a copyright 2 years old.
> Conversely, since instructions are in print for newer Lego models, I believe
> distributing "How To Build This Model" would be a violation of copyright
> law, and would not be considered fair play.
How's that?? Producing and distributing parts lists with coordinates
violates LEGO's copyrights to their printed building instruction booklets?
IANAL, but I don't think so.
Just for the sake of discussion, let's say it does. So, how long does it
take before someone writes a converter that converts .DAT file lines from:
1 1 178 21.68 -224.35 0 0 -1 -.09 1 0 1 .09 0 977.DAT
to:
The next line consists of the following numbers: one, one, one hundred
seventy-eight, twenty-one point six eight, negative two hundred twenty-
four point three five, zero, zero, negative one, negative point zero
nine, one, zero, one, point zero nine, zero, and finally the nine hundred
seventy-seven data file.
and back? And what could anyone do about it? It wouldn't be illegal to
publish text of that type, and it wouldn't be illegal to write and
distribute a conversion program to convert it to a .DAT file, and it's not
illegal to distribute a program that takes .DAT files as input and produces
pictures as output.
> Assuming someone has enough
> pieces, one may download the .dat file for a set and build it out of his own
> bricks, and the Lego Company would not get money for it.
Regardless of whether or not that's always true (which I don't think it is),
is it actually relevant to whether or not it's legal?
> Therefore I propose that the Official Model Repository contain files of only
> those sets that are not sold by the Lego company any more, and not those
> sets which are currently being sold. And yes, even the Star Wars sets,
> though I would like to know the details of them. ;-)
So what would that mean for Star Wars scenes?
> Thoughts?
Whatever you decide, bear in mind that the lugnet.cad.dat.models.sets
newsgroup has no such restriction; .DAT files representing any set new or
old have always been and will always be welcome there. If you feel
uncomfortable giving a ZIPfile containing .DAT file representations of
newish sets, you can always give a link to the newsgroup and people can
decide for themselves whether or not to download and view the file.
--Todd
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Official model repository situation
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| (...) I think the DAT file becomes a derivative work. You're just translating the original work into a new medium. It's like you've written down a scene-by-scene description of a film. If it's allowed under the Fair Play policy, then it's allowed. (...) (24 years ago, 23-Feb-01, to lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Official model repository situation
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| (...) I see the situation this way. On set instructions, it may say (c)1999 LEGO Group. As many copyright disclaimers say something like this: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or (...) (24 years ago, 22-Feb-01, to lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw)
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