Blizzard And Add-On Programmers
Blizzard updated their policy on WoW UI Add-Ons. Which has caused a lot of people in the mod development community to be up in arms.
The issues that most people are upset about the most are items 1 and 5.
Item 1: Add-ons must be free of charge. The big problem with this is that the add-ons are copyrighted by the add-on's author. Blizzard is asserting that it is their right to take dictate what other people can do with copyrighted work not owned by Blizzard.
Some people have asserted that Blizzard has this right since the add-ons use the WoW API to function. As far as I know, current IP law says this is not true. But to take this argument further, if it were true, Microsoft could claim control on any software that uses their API. (Currently, the only real control MS asserts is the right to use the "Made for Windows" logo, which is suppose to guarantee a certain level of quality. This logo is a trademark owned by MS, and thus they have the right to dictate how it used.)
Item 5: Add-ons may not solicit donations. I have seen several mods that had a little note that said "this mod survives on your donations". These little blurbs have always been non-intrusive as far as I have seen; perhaps showing up once when you upgrade the mod, or as a small line of text at the bottom of the add-on's preferences.
I don't have a problem with them, as long as they stay non-intrusive. If the solicitations were windows popping up in the middle of my screen, then I would have a problem.
What is troubling is that some of the add-ons are so complex that, that the developers are spending the equivalent effort as a full time job. I don't see why it is wrong for these people putting so much effort in to ask for some compensation.
The issues that most people are upset about the most are items 1 and 5.
Item 1: Add-ons must be free of charge. The big problem with this is that the add-ons are copyrighted by the add-on's author. Blizzard is asserting that it is their right to take dictate what other people can do with copyrighted work not owned by Blizzard.
Some people have asserted that Blizzard has this right since the add-ons use the WoW API to function. As far as I know, current IP law says this is not true. But to take this argument further, if it were true, Microsoft could claim control on any software that uses their API. (Currently, the only real control MS asserts is the right to use the "Made for Windows" logo, which is suppose to guarantee a certain level of quality. This logo is a trademark owned by MS, and thus they have the right to dictate how it used.)
Item 5: Add-ons may not solicit donations. I have seen several mods that had a little note that said "this mod survives on your donations". These little blurbs have always been non-intrusive as far as I have seen; perhaps showing up once when you upgrade the mod, or as a small line of text at the bottom of the add-on's preferences.
I don't have a problem with them, as long as they stay non-intrusive. If the solicitations were windows popping up in the middle of my screen, then I would have a problem.
What is troubling is that some of the add-ons are so complex that, that the developers are spending the equivalent effort as a full time job. I don't see why it is wrong for these people putting so much effort in to ask for some compensation.