Slashdot Mirror
Blizzard Asserts Rights Over Independent Add-Ons
bugnuts writes "Blizzard has announced a policy change regarding add-ons for the popular game World of Warcraft which asserts requirements on UI programmers, such as disallowing charging for the program, obfuscation, or soliciting donations. Add-ons are voluntarily-installed UI programs that add functionality to the game, programmed in Lua, which can do various tasks that hook into the WoW engine. The new policy has some obvious requirements, such as not loading the servers or spamming users, and it looks like an attempt to make things more accessible and free for the end user. But unlike FOSS, it adds other requirements that assert control over these independently coded programs, such as distribution and fees. Blizzard can already control the ultimate functionality of add-ons by changing the hooks into the WoW engine. They have exercised this ability in the past, e.g. to disable add-ons that automate movement and facilitate 'one-button' combat. Should they be able to make demands on independent programmers' copyrighted works, such as forbidding download fees or advertising, when those programmers are not under contract to code for Blizzard? Is this like Microsoft asserting control over what programmers may code for Windows?"
The fact that, right after having the OP post what they did in all caps, you still managed to miss the point and at least one mod failed to do so as well makes me feel sad for humanity. Because I know the people who come to Slashdot aren't the mental midgets that are incapable of any critical thought whatsoever, this can only show to demonstrate how even intelligent people can act stupid and completely ignore any inconvenient evidence in front of them when they've decided to back a specific line of thought.
Because I know you posted in sincerity, I'm not going to insult you. But you might want to re-read his post, specifically regarding where the donation link is allowed.