I ... version of AGS editor w/o SQ4 font embedded (please) {apparenty SOLVED}

InCreator · Fri 31/08/2007 17:00:43

I knew that AGS will end one day.

Oh no!

Ishmael · Fri 31/08/2007 17:11:03

That's not going to happen.

Have a wild guess why a group of community members acquired a few bulldozers on different continents a while back

covox · Sat 01/09/2007 01:36:30

BOYD1981: Close; the Microsoft/Sony rumble fiasco was a patent infringement case. The company Immersion held several patents for certain bits of force-feedback, and filed suit against MS and Sony on the grounds that they were making millions from controller sales without licensing their technology (i.e. giving them a cut).

Microsoft initially filed a countersuit, then soon settled for bucketloads of money.
Sony filed a countersuit and tried to fight the decision tooth-for-nail; the result being that the company was fined, all DualShock controllers were recalled from sale in the US, and the company decided to start a lame campaign with the PS3 to convince people that rumble wasn't cool anymore. Days later (presumably after reading the opinion polls), Sony caved in and coughed up the full amount to Immersion.

Quite a different case with copyright infringement, where the number of uses doesn't necessarily translate to the number of lost sales. Roger and the SQ4-like font are, at worst, derivative works which can be protected under the Fair Use provision of US copyright law (I'm guessing that's where Santiago_Joven lives).

Vivendi Univeral have had 10 years to send a Cease and Desist notice. If they do in the future, who cares, get the community to replace them with nicer ones.

Ishmael · Mon 03/09/2007 18:22:29

What if we had a badly drawn Guybrush and the SoMI font? Vivendi should just be honored that AGS is still using Roger and co. And none of us is not making any money out of them. I bet Dave doesn't use them in his games.

Santiago_Joven · Wed 26/09/2007 05:25:01

I think the best idea anybody has given me so far has been to buy a copy of Space Quest 4. Any other ideas to make the AGS editor legal to have on PC?

Thanks,

James

MrColossal · Wed 26/09/2007 05:31:38

To reiterate many other posts, the best way to have AGS legal on your PC is to download it, unzip it and run it.

Totally legal, you have nothing to worry about, enjoy and have fun.

Khris · Wed 26/09/2007 06:44:56

I swear, whenever I read in this thread, I can literally feel a few more brain cells going *poof*.

mchammer · Wed 26/09/2007 16:53:23

Maybe this page will solve your problem.

Doctor Oakroot · Wed 26/09/2007 17:15:13

Actually, buying a legal copy of SQ4 would not solve any copyright issues about Sierra IP in AGS... but probably still a good idea just for the game.

If Chris put uncleared Sierra IP in AGS, any infringement is on him... and as soon as Vivendi gets around to calling him on it, he may have to remove it. You're not responsible for it. Period.

Just don't use Roger or those fonts in your game and you're absolutely legal... or wait till you get a cease and desist letter from Vivendi (that's coded as while(true){Wait(1);} ) and then fix it, lol.

Dualnames · Wed 26/09/2007 17:59:47

Oh, fu^& I'm gonna be busted. Jesus Christ Superstar!!

Khris · Wed 26/09/2007 18:27:03

I'm facing a similar problem so I've decided to post this here:

I've noticed that a background I've recently drawn contains the same number of (240, 30, 25)-pixels as the circus tent background from Monkey Island I. Also, I've set AGS to let the character walk the same pixel distance per frame as (I barely dare to use the actual name) Guybrush does.

The fear of Feds knocking on my door in the middle of the night has kept me awake for 76 hours straight now.

So my problem is: could anybody recommend a good therapist in my general area?

monkey0506 · Wed 26/09/2007 19:06:14

After having looked through the AGS Editor using a resource hacking program, it is my professional opinion that AGS does not in fact have the SQ4 font embedded anywhere. It simply dynamically generates a similar-looking (yet completely different) font at the time your game is first built, and then regenerates the font when you choose to revert to the defaults.

Besides, what leads you to believe the font was copyrighted in the first place? Just because it was used in a copyrighted game doesn't mean the font itself was copyrighted. I mean:

Quote from: TypeRight.orgThe US Copyright Office still officially refuses to accord protection for typeface designs. This is due to a misunderstanding of the field, which has resulted in the United States being the only country in the western world not to recognize the intellectual property in typeface designs.

Source: http://www.typeright.org/feature4.html

And as we all know:

Quote from: Wikipedia.orgSierra Entertainment is an American computer game developer and publisher headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Entertainment

If you're so worried about it, then just don't use it in your game. There's no legal grounds in any country that I know of for a company to sue you for NOT using copyrighted material in your game... :o

If you're still terrified to use AGS, then just use it to make a parody of Sierra. Parodies are allowed to use copyrighted material under the doctrine of fair use. If Sierra was so inclined they could still attempt to bring legal action against you, but more likely than not they would lose the case (especially if the only thing of theirs you used was a non-copyrighted font).

Doctor Oakroot · Wed 26/09/2007 19:24:58

If you're using the default Sierra-style GUIs etc., you probably have reasonable argument that you *are* making a Sierra parody.

While Sierra was a US company (although Vivendi is not), that doesn't prevent their copyrights being valid in other countries accoding to those country's laws... but overall, it's a non-issue.

Radiant · Wed 26/09/2007 19:50:20

Quote from: Doctor Oakroot on Wed 26/09/2007 19:24:58
If you're using the default Sierra-style GUIs etc., you probably have reasonable argument that you *are* making a Sierra parody.

Er, no you don't.

First off, calling something a "parody" doesn't make it so, and second, the American judicial system means that the company with the most money has a high likelihood of winning the case, regardless of whom is right.

Again, that doesn't make the OP's question any less silly. But the parody clause is an oft-misunderstood excuse.

Indie Boy · Wed 26/09/2007 20:49:50

If the guy is so worked up about having these fonts or whatever in the engine DO NOT USE THEM. Simple as that. If you do finally get this guy to download the AGS Editor and use it, do you think we will get another Blaze_Mcleary on our case? I more worried about another noob wasting peoples time, time and time again. Like about simple things that can be sorted out by having the time to read the manual*. I would be more concerned about that rather than having the police at my door.

I believe we have tried to explain to the guy enough times through this topic. I don't understand, unless there is a terrible language barrier, why this guy can't use everyone's advice and solutions.

*See the next time I have a question I'm going to get hunted down since I said that

. But I know the system. There has been hundreds of times I could of just started a topic asking for help, but I actually sorted it out myself by reading previous posts or the manual.

monkey0506 · Wed 26/09/2007 21:20:56

Quote from: Potter on Wed 26/09/2007 20:49:50I believe we have tried to explain to the guy enough times through this topic. I don't understand, unless there is a terrible language barrier, why this guy can't use everyone's advice and solutions.

True, but everyone still wants to voice their opinion just for the sake of being able to say "Well I tried to tell you...We all did!"

Indie Boy · Wed 26/09/2007 21:52:57

Yeah but still he comes back asking for a "legal" version. The bloody legal version is the one he has got and this has been pointed out, even if the possibly is there copyright issues its been proven he wouldn't get prosecuted.

Just PFFT I'm getting annoyed. Its just a big AGS call centre. Maybe someone should make an interactive manual, a 20 questions Idea to sort out any problems you have with AGS so we don't get threads like this unless they are necessary.

Or even better a massive disclaimer THIS PROGRAM IS 100% LEGAL AND OFFICIAL.

Pumaman · Wed 26/09/2007 22:25:17

If you read the law literally then you could interpret the AGS editor as being illegal since it does include the SQ4 speech font. However, assuming that you import your own font to replace it, then any games you create are in no way infringing on any copyrights.

If you are worried about having a copy of the AGS Editor on your PC because it contains the SQ4 speech font as a default font, then you are welcome to delete AGS and not use it.
However, bear in mind that in the unlikely event that Vivendi did come knocking, I would be responsible and they could order me to remove the font from AGS, in which case I would do so. This would simply mean that AGS would then have no default speech font and everyone would have to import one of their own.

Santiago_Joven · Thu 27/09/2007 08:13:15

Thanks Mr. Chris for taking time for this.

I appreciate everybodys help! and Mr. Chris, I hope you make a version without anything illegal in it. I wanna be one of the first to get a copy!!!

SINCERE THANKS to everybody who cared!!!!!!!!!

Love, James

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Thu 27/09/2007 08:51:16

Makes you despair, doesn't it?