Lucas Confuses ScummVM With Abandonware

Anonymous Coward writes: "Seems LucasArts finally noticed ScummVm although they seem to be confused about what it is. ScummVM is a 'virtual machine'(yes like Java) that allows you to play scumm games (Monkey Island, for example) in modern OS (Linux, BSD, err Windows XP) and weird machines like PDAs and the Dreamcast, but Lucas have confused them with an abandonware site."

Comments

legal team

[NASAKnight]

Hello:
We are contacting you to let you know that the SCUMM engine that is referenced on the site controlled by you (scummvm.sourceforge.net) is actually still proprietary to LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC ("LucasArts") and is not released under general public license as referenced in the FAQ section on your site

RESPONSE:

The RE techniques used are generally protected in most states under what is generally known as the 'compatability' clause. I'm afraid I am based in Australia and cannot quote the applicible US equivilents for you at this time, but I am certain the LEC legal team is aware of the appropriate sections of the copyright act.

Sounds like LEC's legal team needs to get it's act together!

I don't get it.

[colmore]

"Hmmm... these damn kids are trying to make our games compatible with new hardware. That might result in someone PURCHASING OUR PRODUCT!!! Someone get my lawyer"

Oh it's George Lucas? Jeez, that figures. Of all of my old heros that could have died in a plane crash before they came back to haunt me, Mr. Perm has to top the list.

Re:Call off the dogs

[mbbac]

Well, honestly, they do suck. How much do they get paid an hour? And they still can't tell the difference between someone re-distributing warez and someone distributing a reverse-engineered virtual machine?

Spellchecking?

[LinuxGeek]

Please, oh please, please, please tell us that the email from J Brown was checked for grammar and spelling *before* it was sent to LECs lawyers. If it was not checked, then the author came across as unprofessional and careless. That is the exact opposite of the impression you want to convey to an attorney; its like blood drawing sharks to the swimmers.

That response may get the opposite of the reaction the ScummVM authors hoped for. I hope they will carefully check future email or they will reinforce the perception that it will be easy to derail this project even if they have done nothing wrong.