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My GFX, Devs please read.

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 03:08
by Fanta
I used a mana world sprite in this banner:

Image

Do It have copyrights? May I use it?

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 06:48
by Crush
(please do not see this post as an official statement. it only represents the way i see the situation)

the mana world is a GPL project. that means you may use the artwork under the terms of the GNU General Public License, too.

http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

yes, the GPL refers to computer programs only, but the tmw graphics are part of a computer program. that means the same terms apply to them.

that does basically mean that you may use our graphics when you allow others to use the graphics you make out of them in the same way. that means you must allow others to use your derived work when they allow others to use their derived work and so on. and you can only allow that when other people whose work you used in your picture agree with that.

but the easier way would be to track down the one who made that sprite in particular and ask him if he allows you to use his work under more lax conditions. publishing your own work (as long as it isn't based on others work) under the GPL doesn't mean that you may not republish it under other terms (dual licensing). according to the wiki the one who made that sprite is Necromus. i haven't seen him around here lately but maybe you can contact him via the email address or AIM contact in his profile.

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 07:39
by HaLLanHype
is that guy from mana world?

I dont remember him although i havent played for a while due to dialup

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 12:15
by Modanung
HaLLanHype wrote:is that guy from mana world?
He's in the NPC bitmap already, but that sprite isn't used in the game yet.

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 15:49
by Fanta
OK, I got that. But I'll still wait a reply from a Developer who can say If I can use or not.

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 15:56
by Tenche
nice.. could use some mtouching up and stuff but go ahead and use it the game is GPL

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 17:07
by Matt
He doesnt only use tmw sprites in his banner...

[ http://vortexonline.13.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=34 ]

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/2156/vortex29fg.jpg


Btw what kind of game is it and from which game are the tilesets?

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 18:56
by Tenche
haha i messed with the image lOlImage

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 19:56
by Fanta
Matt wrote:He doesnt only use tmw sprites in his banner...

[ http://vortexonline.13.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=34 ]

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/2156/vortex29fg.jpg


Btw what kind of game is it and from which game are the tilesets?
Custom, and the sprites are not in-game, I'll use RPGMaker XP Sprites or you didn't noticed that those sprites are not animated?

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 21:18
by Matt
Well you descriped this screenshot as ingame screenshot so i thought you'll use it ingame. And we're using this sprites too, even they arent animated.

@Tenche:
If the other graphics used in the banner arent gpled you arent allowed to modify it ;)

Posted: 13 Jan 2006, 21:28
by Crush
Fanta used gpl graphics. so the whole picture is gpl licensed now. we are the gnus. we will add your creative and technological distinctiveness to our own. resistance is futile. your work will be assimilated.

Posted: 14 Jan 2006, 05:46
by Fanta
OK I got it. But If I use only 1 grafic not the whole thing is GPL, only the especific grafic. It means that I can keep my custom gfx copyrighted.

Posted: 14 Jan 2006, 13:56
by Adarias
I personally think gpl is stupid......but thats just me, the banner looks fine, but perhaps you should have a little more of your game in it? That, or do the whole thing as real artwork

Posted: 14 Jan 2006, 23:59
by Techsetsu
Matt wrote:Btw what kind of game is it and from which game are the tilesets?
They look sorta Rmxp to me...

Posted: 15 Jan 2006, 12:36
by Bjørn
Fanta wrote:OK I got it. But If I use only 1 grafic not the whole thing is GPL, only the especific grafic. It means that I can keep my custom gfx copyrighted.
Let me try to do an official statement here. You cannot combine our graphics with your project unless your complete project is also released under the GPL. You probably cannot release your project as GPL when you decide to use RPGMaker Sprites, which I doubt to be under a compatible license.

So your only option is to get in touch with the authors of the graphics you'd like to use, and get explicit permission to use them under different terms than the GPL.

Some people think this is one of the stupidities of GPL, I happen to think it's one of its strengths as it helps spreading the freedom. Speaking from an ethical standpoint, why would we allow you to use, modify and redistribute our graphics without restrictions, if you do not allow us to do the same with yours?