Distributing GRF's from #openttdcoop 8.0-beta1

[Ammler]

Hi all

Since the new GRF handling is introduced we started to distribute a official #openttdcoop GRF pack.

Now, we are thinking about its "legality". What do you think?

The GRFs where are used in our pack: http://openttdcoop.ppcis.org/wiki/index.php/GRF_Table
Download location: http://www.openttdcoop.org/wiki/GRF
Beta: http://bundles.openttdcoop.org/grfpack/releases/LATEST
Bug-Tracker: http://dev.openttdcoop.org/projects/grfpack

We started to collect infos about every GRF, like a link for detailpage or even the authors.

Now, we are at the position to ask for official permission, but there are some difficulties, where we get on.

- GRFs are mostly made by many people together. (Who to ask?)
- GRFs are reused from an other (older) release. (Who to ask?)

My personally thinking is, that you (the authors) would be glad, if we help to distribute them over the world.

Greets
ammler

[Brianetta]

Just to clarify, what #openttdcoop needs is some explicit license to redistribute the grfs in the pack. This is to make the life of players easier. Unfortunately, the implied license given by a grf author uploading a newgrf to this forum doesn't imply permission to redistribute, so no assumptions can be made as to the legality of any newgrf.

Those grfs which are released with a readme file detailing the terms under which a grf can be redistributed (such as those by Michael Blunck) or with a general license (such as the GPL) are not a problem.

For other grfs, permission is needed. The alternative (which is directing players to download locations provided by the author) is not ideal. Newgrfs for download can disappear, versions can change, etc - all of which would prevent connection to an openttd server.

So, if you're the owner of a grf, or a maintainer of a joint grf project who can speak for all the owners, please either get in touch with the #openttdcoop crowd or reply to this thread. If the owner of a grf doesn't make contact, the only assumption that can legally be made is that there is no permission to redistribute.

Brianetta (#openttdcoop's hosting provider)

[Raichase]

Made this a sticky, if temporarily to get attention for it - just so nobody can claim they missed the boat, and didn't get the chance to be asked for permissions or something.

[michael blunck]

Those grfs which are released with a readme file detailing the terms under which a grf can be redistributed (such as those by Michael Blunck) or with a general license (such as the GPL) are not a problem.

Except that all my .grfs need inclusion of the original "readme" files (which contains copyright information and legal terms), i.e., re-distribution of the naked .grf isn´t allowed.

regards
Michael

[Wile E. Coyote]

Same for Serbian sets. GPL exists, but there is also copyright in readme, so they will be distributed with it. But there is needed also opinion of other team members.
And here are missing data for your table:
Website:
http://www.geocities.com/wilesttdpage/srs.htm
Download location:
http://www.tt-forums.net/viewtopic.php?p=225245#225245
Details:
Working with human players and appropriate patches only
Set:
srb/(here is flag if needed)
License/Author:
GPL/Serbian rail set team:
Wile E. Coyote, Purno, Singaporekid, Colonel32, Sanchimaru, Lakie, DaleStan, Patchman, George, Death, PikkaBird, lifeblood, Siema, Marek, damir661

[George]

Since the new GRF handling is introduced we started to distribute a official #openttdcoop GRF pack.

Do ECS vectors and LV4 work in OTTD now?

Now, we are thinking about its "legality". What do you think?

I've already granted permissions to use my work for OTTD community as it is stated on the wiki.

http://wiki.openttd.org/index.php/Graphics_Replacement

[Brianetta]

Those grfs which are released with a readme file detailing the terms under which a grf can be redistributed (such as those by Michael Blunck) or with a general license (such as the GPL) are not a problem.

Except that all my .grfs need inclusion of the original "readme" files (which contains copyright information and legal terms), i.e., re-distribution of the naked .grf isn´t allowed.

This is understood! What's important is that there exists a file detailing the terms. Of course the terms must be followed!

Including your readme will happen, because your terms demand it. We're less fortunate with the GPL, where we must make the source available. Unfortunately, newgrfs don't tend to come with source, and I'm not entirely sure what that would entail anyway. If the images and NFO code can be extracted from a newgrf file, then perhaps it can be treated as its own source archive...

[Ammler]

Hi Wile E. Coyote

Same for Serbian sets. GPL exists, but there is also copyright in readme, so they will be distributed with it.

Thanks you very much for your nicely answer, but you can see on the attachment another problem why I didn't look for this grf:

-ammler

[PikkaBird]

I'm happy for my grf files to be hosted, provided that;

a) the purpose of the site is files for multiplayer (ie, it's not just a general repository of GRFs).

b) credit is given, with a link to my website.

You seem to meet both those so go for it.

(ps, you may want to update av8 to 1.31)

[Zimmlock]

I'm happy for my grf files to be hosted, provided that;
a) the purpose of the site is files for multiplayer (ie, it's not just a general repository of GRFs).
b) credit is given, with a link to my website.
You seem to meet both those so go for it.
(ps, you may want to update av8 to 1.31)

I did not found TTRS in the .grf list, but if you decide to use it i have no problem with that as long as its hosted under the same conditions as Pikkabird has pointed out.

[Wile E. Coyote]

Hi Wile E. Coyote

Same for Serbian sets. GPL exists, but there is also copyright in readme, so they will be distributed with it.

Thanks you very much for your nicely answer, but you can see on the attachment another problem why I didn't look for this grf:

-ammler

Ah, you need narrow gauge tracks GRF, otherwise set fails to load. Other thing is that you must use Mini IN or Patches. Everything is explained in Readme.

EDIT: one more little correction: two-letter abbreviation for Serbia is RS, and three-letter abbreviation is SRB. Use whatever you like.

[Ammler]

Heya, we released today the first version with the new folder architecture. Every grf has his own directory, so we can keep all readmes, license files etc.

Now we test, how this system works with our members and guests.

There is no negative reaction of our distribution, so we will keep it on this way with our list of homepages and credits for every grf.

Before we release a new version, we will take a look on this thread. (Even, if its not sticky anymore.)
--> Means you can still post your thought about our pack or mail us directly: openttdcoop@ppcis.org
(Maybe you have released a new version and needs a public test group?)

Thank you very much for this wonderful grfs.
-Ammler

[osai]

We released the final fourth version of our grf package today.
Check this blogpost: http://openttdcoop.ppcis.org/blog/2007/ ... ackage-v4/ for details.

Enjoy playing with it, and hopefully you try a cooperative game too.

Regards, Osai

[Ammler]

Hi all

We just expanded our pack to version 5 with the fallowing:

Version 5 (2007-06-23)

* added NewDepots for building realistic looking depots
* added Canadian Stations
* moved newwater to testing, because its not fully compatible with OTTD (see this image)
* added German Trams and Tracks
* added Serbian Trams and RVs
* added Japan Trams
* updated av8
* added Standard Gauge Tram track
* added new bridges
* added Thgergo's bridges
* added Serbian standard rail set

Greets
Ammler

[Ammler]

buhh, that was the biggest and longest update since we began to pack some grfs....

Thanks to Trams and NewIndustries, there are so many new nice GRFs, we had to include.

Recent Changes:

Version 6 (2007-11-05)

* new
o ECS
o New Water
o MX3k for Norwegian Set
o WWOTTDGD GRFs (tempsnow, streetlights, party, Toll Booth)
o UK Tram Set TASTER r39M
o Dutch Tram Set r15
o NewCargo Set V0.12
o Pikka's Basic Industries v1.2
o UKRS Industries Brick Chain v1.2
o AlpineClimate v0.21
o BK Tunnel Set v0.3a
* updated
o Long vehicles v4 (07-09-07)
o Canadian Train Set Ver 0.2h
o Modern Trams r3
o Planeset 1.5.3
o Airmod 1.0
o Tropic Refurbishment Set v0.3c
* some "resorting"

[edit] Version 6beta (2007-09-07)

* total restructuring of file system (categories of GRF Crawler)
* updating:
o US Set v0.87.1
o Aviators Aircraft (av8) v1.331
o Narrow Gauge rails v0.92
o Serbian rail set (standard gauge) 2007-08-09
o Canadian Stations Set v0.3b
o Thgergos Cantilever to non-static
* new
o Thgergo's New Cantilever
o Dutch station set (preview)
o NewShips Mod v2 / Airmod v1.0beta3
o Generic Tram Set v0.32
o CSTramSet v0.1
o Modern Tram Set 2007-08-30
o New Tram Tracks v0.3
o Combined Roadset v0.10
o North American Roads Set v0.5a
o Industrial Stations Renewal (preview 07-08-27)
o pb_bridge and pb_build (modify prices)
o NewMonorailMrHunt
o Serbian narrow gauge rail set

Because of so many new GRFs, there will soon be also a update pack....

Have fun on our servers with the new GRFs.

Greets
Ammler

[George]

Thanks to Trams and NewIndustries, there are so many new nice GRFs, we had to include.
Recent Changes:
Version 6 (2007-11-05)
* new
o ECS

Hope you mean vectors from beta 3 only. Alpha 1 vectors are too buggy.

[Octopussy]

Very nice pack

[Ammler]

Hope you mean vectors from beta 3 only. Alpha 1 vectors are too buggy.

We have all ECS Vectors in our pack, sometimes we start a dev server, where we play patches or even beta grfs. I fear, your Vectors are even to complicated for most public players. So we didn't use it yet.

Very nice pack

Thanks, keep in mind to have a look on our page for further links and credits. ALL credits goes to drawer and coder of the grfs self. Thank you very much.

-Ammler

[gkirilov]

I was trying the grf pack today and i had problems with the basecost.grf. I couldn't change the cost for landscaping and building on slopes (almost 50k Euro by default).

Also there are new versions for almost all of the ECS grfs.

[Ammler]

We will publish this weekend version 7 (or 6.1) with many updates...

Changelog:
New: Bridges and Signals for Transrapid Tracks
Update: North American Roads Set v0.8a
New: OpenGFX pack v0.0.2
New: Eyecandy train v0.2
Update: Toll Booth
Update: Generic Road Vehicle Set
New: Total Bridge Renewal Set Test#2
Update: Canadian Trains Set v0.2j
New: TransRapid Track Set r1
New: Rivers 0.1
Update: Narrow Gauge Rails v0.93
Update: Generic Tram Set v0.4
Update: Modern Tram Set r3 (same version but new md5sum)
New: North American City Set v0.1c
Update: All ECS vectors
New: Construction vector by Pikkabird
Update: Shiptool v4 (old: 2)
Update: BK Tunnels v0.3b (old: v0.3a)
Update: New water v0.7 (old: 0.6)
Update: US Train Set v0.87.2 (old: 0.87.1)
Orders: Addon MX3k after Norwegian train set.
Update: Industrial Stations Renewal v0.5.0
Update: CanSet 0.2i

Please refeer to our first post, there are Links to Pack and Table...

Edit: The pack is comming, we have done it, but we need some time to make the pack ready...

Greets
Ammler