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Blizzard Asserts Rights Over Independent Add-Ons

Posted by Soulskill on from the at-least-there's-no-wow-app-store dept.

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?"

7 of 344 comments (clear)

  1. No, it's more like the GPL by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you want to play with their code and platform, you need to follow their rules or not play at all.

    Just as you can't close your code if it incorporates GPL code, Blizzard doesn't want you charging people for your add-ons if you code for their platform.

    1. Re:No, it's more like the GPL by Jurily · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If you want to play with their code and platform, you need to follow their rules or not play at all.

      I was going to call bullshit, but after reading TFA, I completely agree with them in every single point. Misleading summary.

      This is not "software development" in the traditional sense. It's a proprietary platform, where everything you do affects many other people as well. This "unlike FOSS" crap is completely sensationalist.

      Let's see the 'offending' terms:

      4) Add-ons may not include advertisements.

      Oh my, we won't have to get adblock for wow! Outrage!

      5) Add-ons may not solicit donations.
      Add-ons may not include requests for donations. We recognize the immense amount of effort and resources that go into developing an add-on; however, such requests should be limited to the add-on website or distribution site and should not appear in the game.

      Same here.

      So, what was the news again?

  2. Re:pedantry by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And you can develop your add-on for WoW and not follow Blizzard's rules as long as you never distribute it.

    Your pedantry doesn't really prove anything, though.

  3. Re:This is rediculous by Rabbitbunny · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Exactly, Blizzard derives increased value from users taking the time to level a second character due to QuestHelper. Many users use Auctioneer. While those are free with exceptional support there are also many that are not free such as Zygors' Guides ($50), Carbonite ($2.50/mo), Brian Kopp's Guide/Addon ($59.99), Joanas' Levelling Guide ($77), and QuestUp ($47).

    You'll note that the paid addons are for quest assistance.

    You'll note that Brian Kopp (previously featured on slashdot) is now making cash by selling an ingame version of his guide, me thinks this is retribution.

    Also, as an addon author myself I can only say "Go ahead, turn off all your API's, see how that works out. I can farm other games".

  4. Their house, their rules. by nobodyman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If someone takes the time to code the addon they should be able to ask for whatever they want for it

    Nope, when you live under someones roof you play by their rules. It might be kindof a dick move, but it's their API and they have every right to control how it's used. And it's not like this stipulation is unheard of; Microsoft has similar rules surrounding use of their GamerTag API as well as Google Maps with their free API (this is an oversimplification, but in general you are not allowed to use GMap mashups in for-pay websites).

    It is their labor not Blizzard's.

    Not to belittle the work of modders, but the fact that they can write add-ons at all is due to the substantial amount of resources that Blizzard has invested not only in the development of the API, but also the game itself and the massive server infrastructure.

    I may not like it (I haven't decide either way yet whether it's a good or bad move - I'm very wary of Blizzard ever since the bnetd fiasco). But they are absolutely within their rights to do this.

  5. Re:This is rediculous by DJRumpy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think it has more to do with fairness than anything else. Blizzard has always taken a strong stance on balance. If someone produces a UI addon that makes the game easier, but only for those that can afford it, it creates an inbalance which in turn could upset Blizzards financials. If these addons a free, then they are available to anyone with the will to install them. It makes good business sense that they would attempt to control addons like this.

  6. Re:This is rediculous by Altrag · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Lets try that again:

    such requests should be limited to the add-on website OR DISTRIBUTION SITE and should not appear in the game.

    Of course its up to curse.com and whoever to actually implement the charge-throughs (or simply not allow direct downloads for addons that wish to charge), but Blizzard themselves isn't denying the fact that users mostly go to curse.com or wowinterface.com or similar.

    On the other hand, if curse & friends decide not to bother, it will make it extremely hard for new addons to get exposure if they want to charge.