[achtung]

All of this concern around a sequel killing FSO modding is very silly.

Look at Doom.  Doom III didn't kill Doom I/II modding now did it?

[Tyrian]

I'm not too concerned about a possible FS3 killing FSO either.  I'm more interested as to why that picture is on their website.  

It means:

A.)  They know we exist.
B.)  They know what we do.
C.)  They like what we do.

But why would they feature an Inferno ship on their site, when they know it's an open-source mod?

[Rick James]

I'm not too concerned about a possible FS3 killing FSO either.  I'm more interested as to why that picture is on their website.  

It means:

A.)  They know we exist.
B.)  They know what we do.
C.)  They like what we do.

But why would they feature an Inferno ship on their site, when they know it's an open-source mod?

I'm guessing it's because of certain IP issues. Volition probably still owns a huge chunk of the art assets.

[Al Tarket]

i cant answer that because i never knew such a thing happened. i just assumed a huge fan base, id made mega bucks and moved on.

it would be interesting to see decent 4, would be like a taster of what to expect when or if they decide on fs3. who knows some people might get that wish for fs3.

so isnt dead i assume from rick james' comment?

[Rick James]

Oh, Volition is far from dead. They're currently working on the upcoming release of the third in the Red Faction series, Red Faction: Guerrilla, and the sequel to Saints Row, I believe.

[Al Tarket]

nice.. cool. thanks rick.

[Inquisitor]

Volition is owned by THQ, which is another publisher.

[tinfoil]

really? when did that happen?

[Ghostavo]

really? when did that happen?

Eight years ago?

[JGZinv]

Here an idea why they have that image....

Someone told an underling to make up a FS2 promo image and they had previously played
inferno.... so they popped it open and took what they needed not realizing where the image came from
or that they had inferno set up rather than FS2 stock.

[tinfoil]

really? when did that happen?

Eight years ago?

I never knew, but of course eight years ago i wasn't really paying attention to that sort of thing

[Admiral_Stones]

So, what is this thing ^?

It's no ship I recognise.

Eh? That's an EAC Eclipse from Inferno R1!

HOLY CRAPOLA.

Wow. Interplay posting HLP mods in their promo art?

That's a first. I think we've gone legit.

I say we sue them for copyright infringement, score some epic cash and directly siphon it into the secret HLP Volcano Base project.

[Mobius]

No because Inferno stuff is available to the public...people don't need a permission to use it...all they need to do is crediting the original INF team...

[Galemp]

I answered the Doomsayer appropriately.

[Polpolion]

Is anyone else having issues logging on to Interplay?

EDIT: Nevermind, Chrome to the rescue.

[Titan]

it would be nice is they kinda made a community for modders to help them make FS3, including having it be backwards compatible in a special mode (yes, i spelled that correctly. i didn't mean mod)

still, no matter what, BP will always be my FS3

[redsniper]

1. If Interplay released an FS3 it wouldn't be open source for a long time, if ever, so FSO would eventually surpass it, at the rate it gets improved.

2. I was about to suggest we issue a C & D for them using Inferno assets without permission, but then Mob mentioned that it's free to the public so nevermind.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Interplay is perfectly within legal rights to use the image, I think. If we sue them for using a portion of Inferno, we may be violating the FreeSpace 2 Source Code License that was drafted by Volition Inc.

[Herra Tohtori]

It's kinda gray area. Interplay owns the intellectual property to FreeSpace universe, but on the other hand, Inferno (and other user-made ships) are basically property of their individual authors... Interplay owning the intellectual property doesn't really make it "right" for them to take user-made models and exploit them just on the basis that they are said to be ships in FreeSpace universe.

Personally, I would see it as an acknowledgement instead of an intentional copyright infringement on Interplay's part. It's not like Interplay makes huge profit out of a screenie on their web pages (although I find their selection of a ship kinda peculiar seeing that it isn't really from FreeSpace2)... Besides, who was it that originally made that particular model anyway? Do we know that Interplay didn't approach and ask for permission to use the model (or image of the model) on their pages?

There's also the possibility that it's simply a mistake by some web/graphic designer who was given a task to design a FS2 related banner/logo/image or whatever you want to call it... but I don't think that very likely.

[Galemp]

Leave it for now. Promotion of Freespace is good, promotion of Inferno is good. If (and I find this unlikely) Interplay starts a heavy promo campaign with Inferno assets, without making it clear that they are Inferno assets, then Woomeister can send them a nice letter asking for credit where credit is due.

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.