Freeware Legal rights

[CSX2057]

You know I've been thinking about making my works Scenarios, Routes and Repaints. But there's got to be something I can do to protect my work. Its not about copyright or License. I want to protect my Scenarios, Routes and/or Repaints to be freeware cause there will always be free from my site. What legal rights can I have to keep my stuff free?

I don't want anyone to turn my stuff into Payware. Just in case.

[PapaXpress]

RCAP uses the Creative Commons license
http://creativecommons.org/

During the install the user must agree to the license. Yes this may not stop someone from stealing your work, but it does give you some legal footing if you want to go to court.

[GreatNortherner]

Firstly, I don't think that stealing and re-selling freeware add-ons is a huge issue in the train sim world. We are a quite tightly knit community here, and while RW being on Steam has invited a wider audience (and unfortunately also some pirates), I can't see anybody trying to steal and sell anything you published at a file library like RWA or an own website.

In addition to what Dan said, you can also make it a bit more tedious for any potential pirates to steal your work:

• use "protected assets" function when packaging the RWP file -- this disallows the inclusion of these assets in another package through the RW Packager
• put some author or copyright information into the scenario's description text and fill in the author text box, or even in one of the in-game pop ups (for example, a "Thanks for playing, Best Regards [Your Name]" the scenario complete message.
• place a copyright.txt file inside the scenario folder and include it in the package

Cheers,
Michael

[CSX2057]

Hmm that's interesting Micheal. I never though of that. But won't affect rsc user agreement including using their assets? Or third party asset?

[artimrj]

Hmm that's interesting Micheal. I never though of that. But won't affect rsc user agreement including using their assets? Or third party asset?

You really wouldn't be using their assets, just referencing them no? You know the little dog is on tile 0000001 - 34857564. You are not giving the scenery object just a reference to where it is.

[CSX2057]

I'm ok with that. Thanks. Copyright or creative commons sounds good to me.

[PolyesterMafia]

One thing you do need to be aware of is if you in any way use RSC's software to create your Asset, technically RSC can lay claim to it. By it's very nature, just using the Asset Editor and it's compilers to export your asset to the game makes RSC a part owner of your Asset. Whether they could do whatever they please with it is murky waters legally, but something to be aware of if you are extremely concerned about someone making a dollar off your stuff.

As far as outright piracy, there has been very little of that in the time i've been around RW. Stealing niche items from hobby that is frowned upon by 90% of the population just isn't high on the illegal file sharing priority list.

[hertsbob]

I wish there was a black market for one of my routes.

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone stealing something and then trying to sell it on with RailWorks stuff. And if it's blatantly available for free then who on earth would be stupid enough to buy it?

With the caveat that I am a complete random typing on the internet from the other side of the world, this is my personal belief.

a) I build freeware routes/scenarios/reskins/whatever and make them available to like-minded people here, or via my own website.
Absolutely fine. Do the model railroaders get sued by the manufacturers of the track and rolling stock if they exhibit (and charge)? Er, no.

b) I take Cajon Pass and re-lay the track. Meantime I've set up BobsAwesomeRoutes.co.uk and then re-package and re-sell 'my' Cajon Pass route at full retail price.
Now it's time to ensure that my underwear is regularly changed. (Not that it isn't anyway, you understand; I have the most amazing magical laundry at home. No idea how any of it works!)

More importantly, if your trousers are your pants, then what are your pants called? Are they just underpants? How you lot managed to get this fundamental part of language so catastrophically wrong is a constant source of bemusement.

Like I said. I'm a random on the internet, and those are my thoughts. Especially about pants.

[CSX2057]

That makes sense. Well I though someone might do that, I install paint.net and I read in the readme or during the installation saying if you bought the paint.net from someone else you better ask for money back. But since this is a different approach i 'm not worry about it anymore.

I did once with creative commons when I did that chessie system big boy repaint. lol repainted those wheels was a bad idea. I'll keep these for future reference. Got some good info from you guys. Thank you.