They're not really public domain - the reasons are beyond the scope of this post. The issue here is that people who actively choose not to participate should do just that, not participate. No posting, no reading, and no complaining. After all, you don't vote in the election, you can't complain about the resulting government. In the same way, if you do not participate in the community (people that do not participate do not contribute but rather "dump") you do not have right of reply.
I do not want this to turn into Prime Minister's Questions, but I do think things need to change, either with Michael Blunck (WRT his ego), or with forum policy of almost killing projects such as these before they're really off the ground. If it continues, I've a good mind to pull the BR set project.
In the next paragraph he wants to make sure that in any copy of his set this notice is added. That´s the deal, use it for free, share it with everyone, but accept his terms.
When you can not agree to this in any point, or don´t want to or whatever, you are simply not allowed to use it. In this case you have delete it.
This has nothing to do with stealing or anything similar, it has nothing to do with things like "he still has it", he is the copyright holder and he can use his by law given rights. He does it, for example his right to select the form of distributation and his right that modifications are only allowed when he says o.k.
I don´t think Michael is a bad guy, he only wants to be asked before. There are sets around here that are including his graphics, for example Georges LV, Andrex dock, Hyronymus roadset. In all cases he has said o.k., just because he doesn´t want to stop us.
And when he decides not to join us in the forums it is up to him too. It makes absolutly no difference to his rights. But of course this is sad.
1.) I am not familiar with the laws extant in Germany, but since I don't live there I couldn't care less. According to my lawyers and those of Czar Alexander, in the U.S. the trainsets of MB would have been considered entered into the public domain. In any case, the fair use doctrine woudl allow them to be used in other sets as long as they were properly credited. I am under no circumstances defending taking someone else's work and not giving them proper credit; if this Czech set (which I've never seen) took MB's locos and didn't say they were his, he has every right to object loudly and I totally support him in that. However, regardless of the terms of his "license," US law allows them to be used in other derivative not-for-profit works as long as they are credited in full. It's basically the same thing as quoting someone else's book, properly referenced with a footnote. I will NEVER knowingly take someone else's work without credit; but I'm not going to twist myself all through knotholes to avoid using (perfectly legally) someone else's work, when I credit it properly.
2.) Any of you remember DR DOS, PC DOS, and other such programs? There's ample legal proof that just because a software program works and acts just like another copyrighted program, doesn't mean it's copyright infringement if it was done from scratch without using source code of the first program. Therefore, just because another sprite "looks a lot like" one of MB's trains, this does not mean there is any infringement as long as the author says it was drawn from scratch. In any case, the TTD sprites are so small, and the pallette so limited, that obviously similar trains will be similar.
3.) I have only the greatest respect for MB's phenomenal artistic skill, and the enormous amounts of effort he puts into the sets he does; I give him full credit and honor for this. It saddens me to have to say that I have nothing but disdain for his attitude towards others that are trying to contribute to the community. 'You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
ChrisCF, I understand your frustration. Might I suggest that a better response than quitting the BR set, would be to continue it and release it, thus proving that we are able to do great sets without the assistance of copyright-freaks (or, dare I say, despite their best efforts)? The fatuous arguments over "copyright infringements" have redoubled my determination for the US set to be released to popular acclaim, and for it to be the best set yet, if not ever.
Let us not be discouraged in our efforts to improve the Game and contribute to the community. If others feel otherwise, well, we can't help that.
Development Projects Site: http://www.as-st.com/ttd
Japan, American Transition, Planeset, and Project Generic Stations available there
Nice work on point 3. I heartily agree. His contemptful attitude does push his work out of "contributing" and into "dumping". As far as "give a man a fish" is concerned, he seems pretty determined that we shall not be "fed for life". I can't work in the shadow of someone that has no respect for the [url=http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/free-sw.html]basic rights of the user[/quote].
krtaylor wrote:ChrisCF, I understand your frustration. Might I suggest that a better response than quitting the BR set, would be to continue it and release it
There now follows a gratuitous use of BBCode. I REFUSE TO WORK IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE MY WORK COULD AT ANY TIME FACE THREATS FROM AN EGOTIST THAT REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. I WILL NOT STAND BY WHILE PEOPLE FACE LOSING THEIR WORK BECAUSE SOME HIGH-AND-MIGHTY DECIDES TO LODGE A COMPLAINT, AND THE ADMINISTRATORS ACCEPT IT WITHOUT QUESTION. I WILL NOT TOLERATE SUCH CONTEMPT FOR THE HARD WORK OF MYSELF AND OTHERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
End rant, for now. When I get around to posting to Usenet and the Patch mailing lists, I might publish an open letter.
I couldn't agree with the past page or so more.
The least he could do was at least acknowledge the existence of this tiny, insignificent, forum and post in 50+ page topic that bears his name! [/sarcasm]
He shouldn't have a hissy fit over a graphics that has more than 5 and a half pixels in common with his. Not to say I don't respect him as an artist, I do, but as a contributor......good luck,
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction. - Albert Einstein
As of this present time, it is a fact that the very best of TTD expansion sets is represented by the work of Michael Blunck. There's no arguing with this.
The best way to respond to his high-handedness, as well as his undeniable skill, is for there to be not just one set, but many sets that are equal in quality to those of MB, so that his excellent sets become merely "one of many." They shall always receive their just due as the first, but let them not remain the only.
So, let us carry on with redoubled efforts to complete the sets currently under way, without the assistance of MB. To briefly summarize, the following sets at least are well along:
US set
Japan set
BR set
Dutch set
Belgian set
Planeset
When all these are released, the MB issue will become much less of a problem, because there will be so many many other sets to use, to choose from, and dare I say, to draw from for the composition of newer sets.
Please don't throw in the towel, ChrisCF. Show him that you are better than that, by bettering him with the release of a new and greater BR set.
Development Projects Site: http://www.as-st.com/ttd
Japan, American Transition, Planeset, and Project Generic Stations available there
krtaylor wrote:
So, let us carry on with redoubled efforts to complete the sets currently under way, without the assistance of MB. To briefly summarize, the following sets at least are well along:
US set
Japan set
BR set
Dutch set
Belgian set
Planeset
I thought the Dutch set would include some of MBs graphics too, with his permission of course.
Besides that I want to say my opinion (but it's not that different from others I think): I think we all are here to improve the game. Why should we make it each other harder by making copyrights?
It's okay to me when someone uses my graphics, (I like it), but of course, I want some credit and I want to know that my graphics are used. But I'm a totally open-source graphics artist. I think it's not really necessary to put any copyrights on my graphics.
now we must work hard to finish these many set underway of near completion to show Michael B. we will not bend to his kind of pressure of highhandness from any body. I will states to ChrisCF we strongly wish you wil finish your set of British Rail set and leave due whatMichael B. is trying to pull .
tx
Signed by H.I.H.
Czar Aleksander Nikolai VIII
of new Russian Empire
this date
4/27/2004
I have just checked on this issue, and under the law of any country that is signatory to any of the international copyright conventions, MB's work is fully copyright, which means that it may not be copied or distributed without his permission.
However, he HAS given all of us permission to copy it as much as possible (during distribution), and as we didn't sign a licence for that right, he cannot legally prevent us from decompiling it.
If copies of it appear in someone elses work though, he has the right to complain, especially if he is not credited. However, if he thinks that his work has been used, it is his job to prove it.
It must be noticed that even under US law (which is the most free in this regard) none of this use would count as fair use, as fair use is defined as being limited to use in,
"criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research" (US Copyright act 1976 Section 107. Is must be noted that this is fair use as it is in comment)
Note that this does not include distribution as part of your set, but does include (as we haven't signed licence to say otherwise), decompiling it to see how he approached specifica problems, as long as then you do you own work, not copy and paste.
I am annoyed that we even have to talk about this *again*. It should be simple, that if someone wants to use someone elses work, they should be asked about it. Plain and simple. It is their work.
As to the issue of Michael not browsing the forums, right now I don't blame him.
He doesn't have the time to wade through some of the crap that you people post, and secondly, with all the whining and complaining that goes on here sometimes, it turns me off too.
This topic... the fact that it exists sickens me. I wouldn't blame anyone who stopped sharing their sets after reading this. That also goes for the Patch team, who do a LOT of hard work (just look at Oskar and the bridges) It makes a lot of people here sound like ungratefull people who don't deserve squat.
All of the people that work on anything here are doing it for themselves. HOWEVER, they are also generous enough to share.
All of the team working on the Patch know this, they started doing it to get more enjoyment out of TT, and they share it with people with tiny conditions attach, which are MORE THAN FAIR. The same goes for the Graphics Designers, from the smallest new building, to the whole replacement sets. I wouldn't hold it against any of these people if they pulled the plug on their sharing right now.
I strongly suggest people here who are complaining play TT unpatched (yes, not even using the windows 2k switch), with nothing. (Original Grfs, original everything). If you can't play TT 'cause it doesn't work without the Win2k switch, well, you should feel very silly.
Thats All I'm going to say here.
Posted by Raichase. Visit my Flickr! Gallery, Blog (get a feed of everyone at once at Planet TT-Forums).
Raichase - Perfect timing, all the time: [13:37] * Now talking in #tycoon Official TT-Dave Worley Fan Club
Official TT-Andel-in-a-pink-hat Fan Club
Not sure. I have been buse lately and have not started the work at all, and the developer is working on his own. So-> to your question: Thx, but not yet. I will surely let you all know.
BTW why are YOU asking? I thought you have enough things to do already
we feel here in the Russian empire would love to see this new set great joy for the game we loe the game vry much and play it up to 10 hours
a day here. Our Leader teach's us to build Rainway lines and bus lines and airports and shipping lines and it is great to learn new things.
thxs
Moya Cundiff
Elizabeth Cundiff
Michael Olivarrie
Tiania Cundiff
Czarina Aleksandrina
Czar Aleksander
of New Russian Empire
Princess Wensicia of Planet Corrino
Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward
Michael Olivarri
Tiania Cundiff
Dr. Serizawa
Dr. Emiko Yamane
Lady Elensh of Yedo Castle
Trelaina of the Planet Telzart
Lady Achika of the Planet Jurai
Lady Ayeka of the Planet Jurai
You can found a lot of czech trains on this site. (of course, in czech language. Simply click on each hyperlink)
Our little state has also bought Italian Pendolinos, to use them on our high speed track (or corridors) from Prague to Slovakia etc... Their maximum speed will probably not be higher, than 160 kph
Oookaaaaaaay, calm down a bit there...
the CSDsetw has been removed.
BUT do not use it to insult him. THIS WAS BETVEEN HIM ANS MB and IT HAS BEEN SOLVED.
