softpedia putting our stuff on their site - what do people think?

[Azure]

Has anyone who opposed tried putting an obvious disclaimer " Don't redistribute without permission?" and see what happens? I also recommend adding in a " if you didn't download this from the AGS site report it to me" message in the game folder too.
That said it looks like they have an automated feed somehow from AGS ( http://www.softpedia.com/user/help.shtml#softwaresubmission ) if you look at the submission thing it seems someone ( or they) have set up the feed from the AGS database and it's grabbing the games automatically. In which case it may need an AGS admin to sort it out, that said if most people are happy with the situation would it be possible to have a 'omit game from RSS feed' option that lets people reduce the chances of their games getting taken?

[Nikolas]

Thanks not true. Freeware only means that you do not charge for it. You still maintain all rights on the game and its parts (story, graphics, music).

Freeware traditionally means that it is freely distributable. Just because you were given something for free (e.g. the Shiva) doesn't make it freeware.

Public Domain legally means that not only is it freely distributable, it also means that everybody can do whatever they like with it, including use it in their own products, charge money for it, or even disassemble it and replace the author's name with their own. There's a reason why not a lot of software is public domain.

I think I should make my post with more bold letters in, or larger font size!

I'm talking ONLY from the legal point of side.

Theoretically it's impossible to stop distribution once you start it as a freeware (or a free mp3), and this is where CC licenses come in: They mention what we all know: That anything downloaded under the CC license REMAINS as such and can be redistributable. That's why I never liked CC!

The point is that regardless of what you offer and how you offer it, it doesn't take away your legal rights on the art item! You will have an extremely hard time implementing your wishes to anything freeware, but it IS yours legally.

[ddq]

The player played the game, that's all that should matter.

[SSH]

Theoretically it's impossible to stop distribution once you start it as a freeware (or a free mp3), and this is where CC licenses come in: They mention what we all know: That anything downloaded under the CC license REMAINS as such and can be redistributable. That's why I never liked CC!

The point is that regardless of what you offer and how you offer it, it doesn't take away your legal rights on the art item! You will have an extremely hard time implementing your wishes to anything freeware, but it IS yours legally.

You can't prevent redistribution whether you offer if for free or not. DRM may make it slightly harder but it doesn't stop it. CC is simply recognizing this fact but (optionally) providing a legal framework to enforce the prevention of commercial gain, derived works and unattributed use.

[MurrayL]

For what it's worth, I was contacted by Softpedia when they added my games to the site. The email said what was being put up, had a link to the page, and an email address to contact if I wanted them to take it down.

All the games are fully credited to me (with links back to my site), so I don't see any problem whatsoever with them having them up there. Just gives me a wider audience for free.