Payed for Addons

[Malnayil]

I'm curious as to how Zygor, Dugis, and other in-game quest "guides" are getting away with charging for their addons, i was a subscriber of Carb long ago and would be more than happy to have this addon go to payed subscription again (updated alot more than it is now, and new cool features were common :P) not to mention the fact that these guys do amazing work.

Anyway, just want to say thanks, and sorry yall got screwed with that addon policy.

P.S. I know that the addon policy is old now, so dont bother flaming me about it. I happened across an add for zygor and seen they are still charging for theirs and claim they are 100% inside of blizz policys. I just cant for the life of me figure out why.

[Jigain]

If I recall correctly, they claim it's perfectly within Blizzard's policies to give out the client (or "guide viewer") for free and then charge for downloading content (the actual guide material) for said client.

However, the way I see it, that is against point one in Blizzard's UI Add-On Development Policy:

1) Add-ons must be free of charge. All add-ons must be distributed free of charge. Developers may not create "premium" versions of add-ons with additional for-pay features, charge money to download an add-on, charge for services related to the add-on, or otherwise require some form of monetary compensation to download or access an add-on.

Own emphasis.

[Malnayil]

thats the way i seen it too, but they are there, and getting away with it.....

[Archangel_Mike]

Originally Posted by Jigain If I recall correctly, they claim it's perfectly within Blizzard's policies to give out the client (or "guide viewer") for free and then charge for downloading content (the actual guide material) for said client. However, the way I see it, that is against point one in Blizzard's UI Add-On Development Policy: Own emphasis.

It's illegal to buy controlled substances in the US too, but people do it all the time. Doesn't make it right, it's just how it is and how it's been since the beginning of civilization. I used to support Carbonite Addon by paying for it and, until their updates became further and further from patch release, I donated to it's development.

How you gonna stop me from giving some mo-fo some cash'ola?? It's MY cash!


PS: Thanks for the updates!

[Jigain]

Originally Posted by Archangel_Mike It's illegal to buy controlled substances in the US too, but people do it all the time. Doesn't make it right, it's just how it is and how it's been since the beginning of civilization. I used to support Carbonite Addon by paying for it and, until their updates became further and further from patch release, I donated to it's development. How you gonna stop me from giving some mo-fo some cash'ola?? It's MY cash! PS: Thanks for the updates!

That's not really relevant, since Blizzard can (and frequently does) alter WoW code in order to prevent "bad" addons from working. I could accept the analogy, but only if the US government could at will alter the constitution and thus make controlled substances have no effect on people while within the borders of the US. Which would be pretty darn cool.

[eqsanctum]

So pushing the subject back to the original post...


They charge for their time. Don't quote me the "charge for services related to the add-on" bit because -time- can be billed as anything.

Also, they can't require a file to have a static location. Zygors don't they move it once every 15 minutes.

[Foras]

There is a giant confusion in copywrite law (and software patent law for that matter). Derivative works can merge with original creative content. Messy stuff from an IP atorney's point of view.

One really good way to visualize it is by looking into the battles over "idiot's guide" sort of "creative content" v. the software providers who wanted to force licensing prior to publication (authorized version sort of thing).

As long as proper TM notice is provided, Bliz will have a devil of a time stopping the sale of creative content related to their products. On the other hand, they can likely stop the use of any addon with their products for any or no reason whatsoever. One way the zygors of the world could ice their position would be to make their "content" readable and useful outside its use through an addon. Let a third party give away an addon that reads the otherwise useful material into the game world. Think of eBook readers v. the text files. They are produced and sold by different entities.

All this and much, much more said, Bliz is the industry standard for leading with their face and taking actions which courts have slapped them for latter. They seem happy to violate obvious fair use or even privacy laws and just pay for it later in court. They are the last company I would taunt. Remember what they did in the Diablo days.

Interesting stuff. Do some poking on a wiki and check out uspto.gov and epo.org. I will look for some cites to Bliz's actions in the past.

Disclaimer: I am a licensed IP attorney. I am not acting as anyone's attorney, representative or agent on this board. I am simply musing based on 30 years in the field. Everything I write here could be dead wrong. Do your own research and hire an attorney if necessary. I love the law.

[Jigain]

Originally Posted by Foras copywrite

Copyright.

But yeah, that reasoning does make sense.

[eqsanctum]

Originally Posted by Jigain Copyright. But yeah, that reasoning does make sense.

Really? All that useful info and you proof read him? Shameful

[Jigain]

Now now, I would've left it well enough alone if he hadn't claimed to be (yes, claimed; I haven't seen any proof of the contrary and so choose not to believe what the internet tells me) an attourney. An attourney that misspells "copyright", no less.

So sue me. :P

[Foras]

How fast do you type Jigain? When you cap on a guy for a typo and totally ignore the content of the post you re-enforce (check that spelling) the notion that people working on add-ons are idiots.

Do your best to poke a hole in my content. 30 years in the game tells me can't.

Now a question for you Jigain, what did Bliz do that put them at the top of my "do not taunt" list? Well, to make it easier for you I could write "don't taunt," or maybe "DoN't tAunT mAn)"

Reply to content with content or go back to your bedroom and login.