ID:276654
![]() Jan 1 2006, 7:24 pm
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Can someone more throughly explain the restriction of charging money for fan games? After reading some post a while back, I was wondering what exactly does that apply to..As in can you charge for in game features but not to play the game itself? Or can you not charge for ANYTHING in the game?
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Yet, back when there were BYOND Dimes, tons of DBZ games charged for powerboosts, was this before or after the changes in the fangame policy were made?
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That is why it was made, so no fan games that make money can make it to the HUB. this is to protect dantom from lawsuits and the like.
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Exactly...
For the most part, companies that hold the copyrights to a work (DBZ, for instance) won't bother to go after some kids who make a small video game... The cost to pursue them outweighs the harm some small fangame might cause to their business... However, once you start making money off of their property, they can get motivated enough to come after you and/or the system that supports your work (I.E. BYOND) So, to prevent this from becoming an issue, BYOND forbids anyone with a fangame from getting any money for it, for any reason... To be honest, a company might never even notice... and even then, they might still not bother to take action... But, the chance is there, and to be 100% sure it won't happen, BYOND has put this into effect... |
I spent it all on the PC I am currently using (Of which will be replaced in a few weeks, God-willing)
~Kujila |
SuperSaiyanGokuX wrote:
Exactly... Well its a good thing we don't have any fan games that charge money. Oh, wait... |
So what you're saying is, its not 100% illegal to do it, but because of the possibility of getting sued, BYOND suggest you don't do it right?
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They don't just "suggest you don't do it", it's against the rules, which means "Don't do it. Period."
They're responsible for things such as people making money off copyrighted work that they have no rights to, when it's concerning Byond games and the like. Byond could go down all because one person thought they could make money off a fangame. (Big exaggeration, I know, but it's more just an example.) |
Sorta like that controversy with games like SW Galaxies where players could reproduce copyrighted music with musical instruments in like the cantina. They'll go after the medium through which you're doing it. Though that was the RIAA I believe. They'd attack the internet itself if they could.
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Mecha Destroyer JD wrote:
So what you're saying is, its not 100% illegal to do it, but because of the possibility of getting sued, BYOND suggest you don't do it right? What he's saying is that it is 100% illegal, but the chance that they will find you and then prosecute you is very low. |
EDIT: Apparently I mispoke. Upon reviewing the Members TOS and statements regarding fangames, my earlier statement that charging for fangames violates the TOS appears incorrect.
Sorry for any confusion! |
Jmurph wrote:
Feel free to report any fangames that are charging. It is a violation of the BYOND TOS. Could I see a link to the BYOND terms of service? I can't seem to find them for some reason, and would like to read it. |
Jaredoggy wrote:
Could I see a link to the BYOND terms of service? I can't seem to find them for some reason, and would like to read it. I can't find them either... I think that they're hidden on purpose so that people can cry out "That's a violation of the TOS!" whenever the mood strikes them. |
Jaredoggy wrote:
Could I see a link to the BYOND terms of service? I can't seem to find them for some reason, and would like to read it. [link] While not necessarily BYOND's official terms of service, they are certainly some rules to follow, including the one in question. |
I don't think you'd want someone to get a hold of the Prolieum source and start making fan games of it, then charging and making a lot of money off it. Hey, I even end up selling it to Wizards of the Coast as a board game for quite a bit of money. I don't think anyone would like that scenario to happen to them.
It's all just common sense; if you're using someone else's ideas or work, why should you get paid for it? And even if you are, the majority of it should be going to the actual inventor on their own terms. You're not really a fan if you charge money for it other than to only pay for the server/web-space costs. |
Like no subs, no paying you for extra stuff.