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A question on licensing agreements

Posted by Alyce on Sun 04 Sep 2016 02:35 AM — 7 posts, 28,770 views.

Alyce #0
Ok.. so I know we are to put certain things in our login sequence... but like I'm sure so many of you know, that it kind of dirties things up having all that legal licensing stuff RIGHT THERE...

so here is what I did...


To begin, enter your character name, or type NEW for a new character
To view the licensing agreements, type "license"


and when you type license, then you see...


ALYCE is a derrivitive of SMAUG written by Thoric (Derek Snider) with
Altrag, Blodkai, Haus, Narn, Scryn, Swordbearer, Tricops, Gorog, Rennard
Grishnakh, Fireblade, and Nivek.  Original MERC 2.1 code by Hatchet, 
Furey, and Kahn. Original DikuMUD code by: Hans Staerfeldt, Katja Nyboe,
Tom Madsen, Michael Seifert & Sebastian Hammer.
SMAUGFUSS 1.9 By Samson.

Type in your character's name, or type NEW for a new one


Does this count as having it in the login sequence?
Nick Gammon Australia Forum Administrator #1
See this: http://www.gammon.com.au/scripts/showfaq.php?faqid=35&productid=6

That's the only reference I could find about the names having to appear in the login sequence.

However what might obey the license is to show the names once you are logged in (or type "new"). That way you don't clutter the original screen that appears when you connect, as much.

Another possible approach would be to use ANSI colours to show the license in a less bright colour, like dull gray.

Your idea of a link to the license seems OK to me, but I'm not one of the authors of the code.
Alyce #2
I wonder how many people actually message these folks and say "Hey, I'm running a MUD" lol
Nick Gammon Australia Forum Administrator #3
I think it would be unlikely they would go after you if you had a link to the credits, or did your best to keep it to two lines. I mean, hiring lawyers to sue you would cost a lot of money, and what "lost earnings" could they claim as damages for a free-to-air MUD?

What I would do is show the authors *after* you log in (thus not cluttering the actual initial screen) plus put a gushing piece of praise which you force people to read when they make a new character.
Alyce #4
Thank you for your suggestion. I agree, there would really be no loss considering it's all free. It's not like i'm trying to claim it as my original, just make it look clean.


Do you think that putting a donation button on the home page violates anything? I know you aren't supposed to monitize off it.. basically for profit... but if it all goes to reimburse server costs and there is no profit gained then it should be ok right? It'd be totally optional and never a requirement to play.
Nick Gammon Australia Forum Administrator #5
I'd hold off on that button for a while - it might put players off. I didn't have one on this web site until a few years back when someone wrote to me saying they wanted to donate, and how could they do it?
Alyce #6
no worries. I dont even have the website yet lol. Still looking for a good host for not much monies.

genesismuds was good back in the day.

orcs.biz is only $12 a year but haven't really heard anything good or bad about them