Commercial md2 and md3 use

[Michael Sgier]

Hello
Quake3 has been GPL released by ID. So I could use md3 and md2 models
for free? Not the art just the basic C++ model code. And how about using
md3 models in a commercial game? Is that possible with the GPL or not?
THANKS and regards
Michael

 

[Kai-Uwe Bux]

Hello
Quake3 has been GPL released by ID. So I could use md3 and md2 models
for free? Not the art just the basic C++ model code. And how about using
md3 models in a commercial game? Is that possible with the GPL or not?
THANKS and regards
Michael

(a) this is off-topic in this group.

(b) "for free" is vague. You can use files licensed to you under the terms
of the GPL in exchange for abiding by those terms.

Whether your game is "commercial" or not is mostly immaterial: the GPL-v2
uses the distinction commercial/non-commercial only in item 3c providing a
small exception for non-commercial software).

All depends on whether the licensing of that game will be compatible with
the GPL. The gist of it is that you would have to license the game to your
customers under the terms of the GPL if you use GPLed code in that game.
Whether your business model allows for that is irrelevant as far as the GPL
is concerned.

Just read the GPL. It details what you are allowed to do with the code and
what you are not allowed to do.

(c) Also, if you want solid legal advice, ask a *lawyer* not a news group.


Best

Kai-Uwe Bux

 

[Michael Sgier]

Hello Kai
The GPL states any code used has to be released also under the GPL. How
about game code integrating GPL'd md3 models? So i had to release all my
code under the GPL? That would mean selling one copy with the source and
my customer would do the same...
So I can NOT use it commercially...
Thanks Michael

 

[Kai-Uwe Bux]

Hello Kai
The GPL states any code used has to be released also under the GPL. How
about game code integrating GPL'd md3 models? So i had to release all my
code under the GPL? That would mean selling one copy with the source and
my customer would do the same...
So I can NOT use it commercially...

Well, keep in mind that ID owns that code. Why don't you just ask them to
license that code to you under terms that are acceptable to you. ID clearly
could do that. Probably you should be prepared to pay some money. But then
again, you want to use that code for profit, don't you?


Best

Kai-Uwe Bux

 

[Gernot Frisch]

Hello
Quake3 has been GPL released by ID. So I could use md3 and md2
models for free? Not the art just the basic C++ model code. And how
about using md3 models in a commercial game? Is that possible with
the GPL or not?

A file format cannot be copyrighted. You cannot forbid someone to read
a file. The code for reading might be, but if you take a close look at
it, you can re.write the code quite easily yourself.
Am I wrong?

-Gernot