[z-machine] reimplementations and copyright

[Andrew Plotkin]

On Mon, 26 May 2003, Dave wrote:

> I'm nearing completion of a reimplementation of Shadowgate in Inform.  Is
> anyone here aware of any problems there might be in my releasing this
> game?

Nobody seems to be answering the question. At risk of firing off the
Copyright Argument, I'll give the factual answer:

Shadowgate is a copyrighted work. You don't have the creator's permission.
Therefore, the creator could sue you.

(Ignore the above if you have an explicit statement from the creator
saying that you have permission, or that the game is now released from all
copyright. But I assume you don't have any such statement, or you would
have said.)

Since I have no idea who the creator is, I have no way to guess whether
he/she/it *would* sue you. I suspect you have no way to guess either.

None of the above is advice on what you should or should not do.

--Z

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the borogoves..."
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