Am Donnerstag, 5. Oktober 2006 12:44 schrieb Dennis Schridde:
> A short interpretation of this letter by me.
>
> > Mr. Schridde,
> >
> > Unfortunately, the Software Freedom Law Center cannot offer to represent
> > you in this matter.  However, I will try to assist by answering your
> > questions in a general sense below.
> >
> > > Am Mittwoch, 27. September 2006 23:02 schrieben Sie:
> > >>> 1. Does the readme.txt give us any indication on what license the
> > >>> data was released under, ie. does "as is with no guarantees" give us
> > >>> any permissions (like an implicit "with no restrictions", since they
> > >>> don't mention any)?
> >
> > The language itself may not confer an express license, but the conduct
> > associated therewith may confer an implied license.  Further, if you or
> > others have put the copyright holder on notice of your use and they do
> > nothing to object to that use, you may also claim laches and equitable
> > estoppel against them to prevent them from asserting their claims
> > against you for the use you identified to them.
>
> So a documented notification of the copyright holder (Eidos, s.b.) is
> needed. (Shall I ask him whether this can happen via email or should better
> be done via certified mail?)
>
> > >>> 2. Is there a way to legally distribute the game data without further
> > >>> word from the copyright holders?
> >
> > The best course of action is to probably tell your licensees what the
> > facts are:
> >
> > (1) The source code has been licensed under the GPL;
> > (2) Other aspects of the program have been released for free to the
> > community under terms that imply the right to modify and redistribute;
> > (3) Attempts to clarify the licensing of those other portions have been
> > to no avail because the copyright holder has not responded to express
> > requests for clarification.
> >
> > ... and not draw a legal conclusions.  You could include something along
> > these lines with supporting references in the license file or copyright
> > notice.
>
> That sounds similar to the idea to simply use the readme.txt as a license
> for the data, doesn't it?
> Sounds sensible to me, we just need to setup a text for distribution...
>
> > >>> 3. How can we best ensure that the possible legal ambiguity of the
> > >>> license does not threaten or opens up to lawsuits on the project and
> > >>> anyone who distributes our builds of the game?
> >
> > Attempting to contact the copyright holder in a documented fashion is
> > one excellent step to take.  If you've done a good faith analysis of the
> > situation and attempted to ensure you are complying with the copyright
> > holder's wishes, that goes a long way towards mitigating your and your
> > licensees potential exposure for any legal action.
>
> Again he says we should contact the copyright holder.
>
> > >>> 4. Does it make sense to try to contact Eidos on this matter?
> >
> > Yes, you should attempt to contact them, as they may very well now be
> > the copyright holder since they acquired the original developer.  Make
> > sure to retain copies of all correspondence you send to or received from
> > them.
>
> Eidos is possibly the copyright holder and we shall contact them for that
> matter.
PS: Any ideas how he thinks that Eidos should be contacted?
(email or certified mail, a simple notification "we are WZR and are using that 
data" or asking for clarification again)

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