Graal ToU Clarification (Intellectual Property)

Jiroxys7 · #1 09-01-2011, 03:57 PM

As a person seeking to enter the field of game development and design, I've had a recent concern arise regarding the ToS. I've been working on a server some some time now, but I've been thinking of eventually using the ideas planned to create my own 3D MMO based heavily on the content. (Same world, classes, weapons, etc. pretty much everything save for the default graal-style stuff such as the sprites and tileset which would need to be changed anyway in a 3D setting.)

My concern is regarding the portion of the ToS that I have read in the past regarding that "everything you upload becomes property of GraalOnline". Don't get me wrong, I'm very interested in continuing development of my server, but if this means that I wouldn't be able to make it my own game in the future, it may be in my best interest to withdraw the project before I start adding too many things. Could anyone clarify the details of this for me?

Secondly, I've tried finding the section in the ToS to quote it, but I didn't see it there. Is it still there, or was it removed?

If this is the wrong place to ask about this, I apologize.

Edit: After still more searching, I have not come across the line that was in the previous ToS Agreement. Would I be correct to assume that it was there for a different purpose and/or was not needed in the revised ToS? I just want to be sure.

WanDaMan · #2 09-01-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiroxys7

As a person seeking to enter the field of game development and design, I've had a recent concern arise regarding the ToS. I've been working on a server some some time now, but I've been thinking of eventually using the ideas planned to create my own 3D MMO based heavily on the content. (Same world, classes, weapons, etc. pretty much everything save for the default graal-style stuff such as the sprites and tileset which would need to be changed anyway in a 3D setting.)

My concern is regarding the portion of the ToS that I have read in the past regarding that "everything you upload becomes property of GraalOnline". Don't get me wrong, I'm very interested in continuing development of my server, but if this means that I wouldn't be able to make it my own game in the future, it may be in my best interest to withdraw the project before I start adding too many things. Could anyone clarify the details of this for me?

Secondly, I've tried finding the section in the ToS to quote it, but I didn't see it there. Is it still there, or was it removed?

If this is the wrong place to ask about this, I apologize.

Edit: After still more searching, I have not come across the line that was in the previous ToS Agreement. Would I be correct to assume that it was there for a different purpose and/or was not needed in the revised ToS? I just want to be sure.

If the server gets released on the playerlist then unfortunately it does become property of Graal Online, however; if it doesn't get released and the server is owned by yourself (i.e. You purchased) then I believe it's within your right to delete the material and use for your own personal use in the future.

Jiroxys7 · #3 09-01-2011, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WanDaMan

If the server gets released on the playerlist then unfortunately it does become property of Graal Online, however; if it doesn't get released and the server is owned by yourself (i.e. You purchased) then I believe it's within your right to delete the material and use for your own personal use in the future.

That's what I heard, but I don't see any mention in either of these anymore:
EULA:
http://graalonline.com/accounts/licence.php

Rules of Conduct:
http://graalonline.com/accounts/rules.php

Adding on: I could imagine that this could also cause more problems as if a player uploads gfx related to a copyrighted game, they're forcing GraalOnline to claim ownership.

Wondering if this rule is really gone or if it's currently unwritten or what. (Though legally if they are actually enforcing it as an unwritten rule, that would probably be a bad idea.)

I also saw something saying that they have the right to alter/develop/whatever your server if they don't like it. So on the other hand I'm wondering if it was simplified to this. It would give them permission to alter a server without claiming ownership to the concept/design/etc.

Admins · #4 09-01-2011, 11:20 PM

http://forums.graalonline.com/forums...ad.php?t=84379

The rule is to prevent people from making a successful Graal server and then removing it and releasing it on their own. As long as the server is hidden you can remove stuff as you want.

PhantosP2P · #5 09-02-2011, 12:39 AM

Hmm, that was always a bit of a sore spot for Valikorlia, but I guess there's not much we can do about it.

Admins · #6 09-04-2011, 05:57 PM

The problem is that servers only work if a lot of people participate and servers also copy ideas from other servers, share scripts and work together. The best is if you experiment your ideas, have fun in development or working on things together with other people. When the time comes where you want to start your own game you probably have enough ideas anyway of how do things better and start fresh.

Fulg0reSama · #7 09-04-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

The problem is that servers only work if a lot of people participate and servers also copy ideas from other servers, share scripts and work together. The best is if you experiment your ideas, have fun in development or working on things together with other people. When the time comes where you want to start your own game you probably have enough ideas anyway of how do things better and start fresh.

I see you've made a statement, but what is your point?