AddOn Authors Permission Needed in Bulk

Tearstar · 06-10-09, 03:55 AM

Greetings AddOn Authors and welcome,

I just recently got into addon code, and I have since been able to modify a great deal of my Interface with lots of addons, some addons with small minor code adjustments such as a Chat string I didn't like the output on I changed, nothing to change what the addons does nor have I modified anyones code to remove identifying or notability marks, just cosmetics. I believe my last scan of my addon folder reported 392 addons installed, My project is the UI of UIs. suitable for minimalist just by toggling off the unwanted addons yet fully capable for the graphic enthusiasts. The UI with everything anyone would every need for any class, no matter if your a PvP'er, a Soloist, A Raider, Achievement/Quest/Pet Horder . . . This UI will have everything available just by toggling the addons on the list . . . completely character specific.

Most of the addons I have found here on WoWI and 90% of them are as "author has originally coded" no modification needed to make it work right, no modification to change a frame scale or alpha . . . they were great out of the box with enough features and user config settings and my hats go off to each author . . . *clap* . . . clap* . . .clap*

Now here is where the Authors Permission comes in. To really make my idea work I need a way to show a "not so addon familiar" user which addons are similar and should not be used with a certain other addon running as far as this interface. So What I would like to do is Change all the "Title Colors" in all the addons to "color-code" them. So like Pitbull, Xperl, ag_ , and any other UnitFrame addon those titles would be one color, so the user would know that only one set in this color group should be activated. While Map Mods would be another color group.

So should I post a list of the ones I'm currently using and hope they come here and "sign" the thread saying it's ok to change the color of the addon title for this UI project, or would it be better just to ask each WoWI hosted author to give permission to do so and then me pull from the threads to change the ones who say yes, and probably add in some addons I didn't know about that might replace an addon who's author didn't sign? Or get everybody I can to sign that is an author and then if I see their addon later I already have the permission.

The files that I have modified I will contact their authors directly to specifically explain what was changed in the code and why and make sure I have the permission needed to use said modified code.

Now I know someone is gonna say "What if I don't want this or that addon" or "what if you don't have the one I like" . . . each addon is swappable with another. I'm just creating a UI with as many of them in one interface as I can and let me tell you . . . you wouldn't believe what this thing can do. -edited-My layout and design skills might not be the best, but I have a good collection of older and newer addons that I think all work well together.-/edited-

So in summary:

Do I have your permission?

Katae · 06-10-09, 04:49 AM

tbh, you'd have a better chance to get authors' attention by sending a pm

Tearstar · 06-10-09, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by Katae

tbh, you'd have a better chance to get authors' attention by sending a pm

so you want me to send out approximately 300 pms . . . to ask them all for one thing? Let me correct my speaking because your not telling me to do it this way, your just letting me know that not all that many authors read these. Thank you for that, but aren't you an author?

Waverian · 06-10-09, 05:31 AM

The best solution is to not try to create a UI to fill every person's needs, because when you try it rarely fills anybody's needs. A well designed UI isn't plug and play, it's comprised of conscious design decisions.

jaliborc · 06-10-09, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by Tearstar

so you want me to send out approximately 300 pms . . . to ask them all for one thing? Let me correct my speaking because your not telling me to do it this way, your just letting me know that not all that many authors read these. Thank you for that, but aren't you an author?

Yes he wants, and I agree with him. You should ask to every author of the addons you're "hacking".

Grimsin · 06-10-09, 08:05 AM

Everyone is aware that bliz's changes to the AddOn rules not to long ago basically makes it where you don't really need to get permission anymore? Since no WOW AddOn can be copy righted or protected. Anyhow not that i think you should use other peoples work without asking and i defiantly do not agree with blizzards changes, but there are simpler ways of going about this.

If your not actually going to change the code in some of them i would just list mention of them somewhere in your download similar to what i did for my compilation. Your right trying to PM all 200 some odd authors of all the AddOns in my compilation would be ludicrous.

Notice that there is special mention for those AddOns i have changed the code in and for those people who have helped me one way or another with the coding.

Samsan · 06-10-09, 08:18 AM

If you're only planning on changing the color to group them, why not just add a text string with the assigned color per group linking the name of the mod to that color coded group, that way you don't have to change the mods.

just a thought and my $2 worth...lol

Tristanian · 06-10-09, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Grimsin

Everyone is aware that bliz's changes to the AddOn rules not to long ago basically makes it where you don't really need to get permission anymore? Since no WOW AddOn can be copy righted or protected.

Incorrect. Addons are copyrighted by default the moment the code is written as pretty much any other creation and they are the intellectual property of their authors. Just because their code is readable does not imply that the addons are open source. Blizzard's policy simply requires that addons are "free of charge", if you intend to use them in their sandbox, meaning that an author is unable to require monetary compensation of any form, or even charge for "premium" versions. Donations are still allowed by the policy, as long as they are not advertised ingame.

Your right trying to PM all 200 some odd authors of all the AddOns in my compilation would be ludicrous.

It is certainly inconvenient, yet if you do not secure permission to redistribute an altered version of their work, you are opening a huge can of worms, as it is well within author's rights to ask you to remove their addon(s) from any compilations you are distributing (for whatever reason). This only applies to addons that are not distributed under a GPL or any other kind of open source license, that explicitly allows redistribution and/or distribution of modified versions. At any case, the best course of action, is to always secure permission, when possible.

Vis · 06-10-09, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Grimsin

Everyone is aware that bliz's changes to the AddOn rules not to long ago basically makes it where you don't really need to get permission anymore? Since no WOW AddOn can be copy righted or protected.

Just to clarify on this one point. That statement is false. Addons cannot charge money for their use/access etc, but there is absolutely nothing stating they are not Copyrighted works.

Petrah · 06-10-09, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Grimsin

Everyone is aware that bliz's changes to the AddOn rules not to long ago basically makes it where you don't really need to get permission anymore? Since no WOW AddOn can be copy righted or protected.

I think you have misunderstood the new addon policy Blizzard put in place. An addon is legally copyrighted from the moment of it's creation. Blizzard Entertainment has absolutely no say whatsoever in this.

Xinhuan · 06-11-09, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by Tearstar

so you want me to send out approximately 300 pms . . . to ask them all for one thing? Let me correct my speaking because your not telling me to do it this way, your just letting me know that not all that many authors read these. Thank you for that, but aren't you an author?

Yes, you should send out approximately 300 PMs, each one tailored and specific to what you want to modify in each addon. It is your responsibility to do so, not an author's one to check this thread which contains no details of what is changed for each of 300 addons.

I would not give permission unless I know exactly how, what and why something is changed.

Zyonin · 06-11-09, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by Xinhuan

Yes, you should send out approximately 300 PMs, each one tailored and specific to what you want to modify in each addon. It is your responsibility to do so, not an author's one to check this thread which contains no details of what is changed for each of 300 addons.

I would not give permission unless I know exactly how, what and why something is changed.

/agreed

Not all authors spend time on WoWInterface. They may release here as a courtesy however their main web home maybe elsewhere. Thus they are not going to see threads of this nature. PM them. If that is too daunting, then perhaps you need to rethink your idea.

To be quite frank, uploading a compilation with 300+ AddOns in it is overkill. You are better off either going with a general compilation and users can add the class specific AddOns themselves or you can can create "bolt on" packs that add the class specific AddOns (including any settings you wish to include). Aka something like this:

MyUI
MyUI_Druid (contains any Druid specific AddOns)
MyUI_Rogue (likewise as for Druid except for Rogue specific AddOns
so on and so forth...

One issue with your "Title Recolor" idea is some "class specific" AddOns are useful for more than just one class. A good example is many combo point AddOns are useful for both Druids (Cats) and Rogues, while many Tanking oriented AddOns can be used by all four Tank classes. How would you plan in dealing with those AddOns? At least with the class pack idea you can include those AddOns without the "need" to modify.

MidgetMage55 · 06-11-09, 02:44 AM

One small issue is the addons in question are unknown. So even if there were authors that are willing to say yes they wouldnt know if it was their addons you want to modify. I know you covered this briefly in your original post. Asking for blanket approval (from what i got out of it) from essentially all authors is not likely going to go far. And if by chance the compilation is posted (ill admit i havent looked) your basically asking every author to look it up and see if they have addons in it and then decide if they want to allow you to do this.

Might be worth listing the addons in question if you still plan to continue to pursue this through a thread. I would imagine that authors are loathe to give a blanket approval especially if they arent even sure your request refers to them.

Personally as much as it sucks i think pm's are your best route for what your after even though its certainly a daunting prospect to say the least.

Tearstar · 06-11-09, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Lykofos

One issue with your "Title Recolor" idea is some "class specific" AddOns are useful for more than just one class. A good example is many combo point AddOns are useful for both Druids (Cats) and Rogues, while many Tanking oriented AddOns can be used by all four Tank classes. How would you plan in dealing with those AddOns? At least with the class pack idea you can include those AddOns without the "need" to modify.

I had considered all of these issues and had considered something to this effect

## Title: HUD

## Title: UnitFrame

## Title: HunterMod

## Title Healz+ | Priest/Druid
But to be honest I like the idea of the "Bolt on Packs" or Plug-in Idea.

Now doing it this way, it should still keep the saved variables and layout design I set it up with with my WTF included correct?

Even doing it with the bolt on packs, I'd still like to colorize the Core addons by type, but this will cut the list down to where I maybe able to pm those authors.

I'll look into that, any other ideas and suggestions are welcome.