Hard Light Productions Forums

General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Klok on July 20, 2005, 09:01:33 pm

Title: Legal?
Post by: Klok on July 20, 2005, 09:01:33 pm

Hi! Um...I've read quite a few threads here, but I'm so confused :( Is it legal to download Freespace 2? Sometimes I read that it is (EULA), sometimes I read that it isn't (Anneversary edition), then sometimes it is (Interplay dying), sometimes it isn't...Whats the definitive answer? I'd love to download it, but I don't want to do it if its illegal....

thanks

Title: Legal?
Post by: Taristin on July 20, 2005, 09:14:35 pm

Well, let's not call it legal... but also let's not say it's illegal... :nervous:

Title: Legal?
Post by: Goober5000 on July 20, 2005, 09:16:04 pm

:welcome:

The Freespace 2 EULA explicitly states, "You may give copies to friends and acquaintances on a no-cost, noncommercial basis."  That means if you have a friend or acquaintance who has FS2, he can give you a copy as long as he doesn't charge for it.

Putting them up for download on the Internet is a somewhat questionable interpretation of "giving them to acquiaintances".  Interplay is essentially dead, though, so it probably doesn't care.

The source code, however, can be freely distributed to anyone as long as they follow the source code EULA.

Title: Legal?
Post by: Solatar on July 20, 2005, 09:23:06 pm

To the best of my knowledge, nobody has gotten in trouble for downloading Freespace (correct me if I'm wrong).

Title: Legal?
Post by: Trivial Psychic on July 20, 2005, 10:12:36 pm

Of course, if we started re-packaging FS2 (digitally) in its entirety and distributing it widely on the net, and getting lots of publicity, eventually SOMEONE's lawyers would start knocking down are front doors.

Title: Legal?
Post by: Steel on July 20, 2005, 10:23:33 pm

check the last post on the first page of this thread - you will need to download the pic and enlarge it perhaps to read the text...

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,33463.0.html