I think that you could package the software, but it wouldn't be very useful as anyone who uses it is violating the TOS. But if you can create a server package for it, it would have a legitimate use as a client for a server that just happens to use the same protocols as Yahoo does.
There may be loopholes in the TOS, but I wouldn't take too many chances, especially not with Yahoo. Andrew On 1/9/06, Chris Howie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I decided, as an excersize (and for the heck of it) I would package my FOSS > project YICS (www.yics.org) for Debian. > > Basically, YICS connects to any of the free Yahoo! Chess lobbies and emulates > a > FICS server, meaning xboard, eboard, and other FICS interfaces can be used to > play on Yahoo! Chess. The idea is to bring the features of those interfaces > (automatic PNG logging, customizable colors/sounds, etc) to the Yahoo! world > There are, however, a few legal issues I wanted to bring up before I spend the > energy packaging it. I believe that I can refute most of the problems, but > you > might (and certainly do) know more about law than I do. > > (For those who can't figure it out, I start potentially negative sections with > "===" and potentially positive ones with "+++".) > > === Problem 1: The Yahoo! TOS: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > Section 17 contains this sentence: > > > You agree not to access the Service by any means other than through the > > interface that is provided by Yahoo! for use in accessing the Service. > > Section 2 defines Service: > > > Yahoo! provides users with access to a rich collection of resources, > > including various communications tools, forums, shopping services, search > > services, personalized content and branded programming through its network > > of > > properties which may be accessed through any various medium or device now > > known or hereafter developed (the "Service"). > > We can assume that this includes Games. > > +++ Refutation: "Interface" is not defined anywhere. Couldn't TCP port 11999 > be considered some kind of interface to the "Service?" > > === Problem 2: Back to our friend, section 17: > > > You acknowledge and agree that the Service and any necessary software used > > in > > connection with the Service ("Software") contain proprietary and > > confidential > > information that is protected by applicable intellectual property and other > > laws. > > The binary protocol is encrypted, which also brings up DMCA issues. > > +++ Refutation: Progressive XOR can hardly be considered a trade secret. And > the DMCA is supposed to cover *copyrighted* material, *and* allow for > interoperability exceptions. > > === But: http://www.eff.org/IP/Emulation/Blizzard_v_bnetd/ The DMCA is, of > course, supposed to cover copyrights, not protocols. But bnetd did get sued. > > === Users of YICS don't see banner ads when playing either, so YICS does mean > some lost revenue for Yahoo!. > > > > *HOWEVER*, and this is kind of the hinge... regardless of the legal issues > outlined above, I have one major advantage. I have very strong evidence that > Yahoo! knows about my project, and I have made no effort to hide my identity > -- > the program itself lists my Yahoo! ID. > > I have not heard from Yahoo! during the project's two-year life. > > An unfortunate side-effect of YICS is that it allows a computer to be directly > hooked up to the Yahoo! Chess servers, by way of WinBoard, xboard, and other > commercial interfaces. Yahoo! does not forbid this, but I doubt they like it > very much. On the project wiki and forum I have stated in the rules that any > kind of information pertaining to using YICS in combination with an automated > computer are prohibited from appearing or being discussed on either. I feel > that it is this alone that has kept me in Yahoo!'s good graces. > > A side-effect of this side-effect is that I am contacted almost daily by > certain key members of the Yahoo! underground world (cracking, boosting, and > all that junk). Several of them have had their accounts removed within months > of registering on Yahoo!. > > So... if Yahoo! actively deletes accounts of known underground leaders and > participants, how come my account hasn't been disabled or removed? I can only > assume that it's because I've tried to promote YICS as an alternative > interface, not a cheating tool. I haven't tried to hide from Yahoo!. > > My site doesn't use a dark color scheme like the "hacker" sites, either. > > But seriously, what do you think? > > > -- > Chris Howie > http://www.chrishowie.com > > -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- > Version: 3.1 > GCS/IT d-(--) s:- a--->? C++(+++)$> UL++++ P++++$ L+++>++++ E--- > W++ N o++ K? w--$ O M- V- PS--(---) PE++ Y+ PGP++ t+ 5? X- > R(+)>- tv-(--) b- DI+> D++ G>+++ e>++ h(--)>--- !r>+++ y->+++ > ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------ > > > -- > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- Andrew Donnellan http://andrewdonnellan.com http://ajdlinux.blogspot.com Jabber - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------- Member of Linux Australia - http://linux.org.au Debian user - http://debian.org Get free rewards - http://ezyrewards.com/?id=23484 OpenNIC user - http://www.opennic.unrated.net
