[Videx]

Originally Posted by Alfa1

Doesn't copyright have to be explicitly stated? Like it is at the bottom of this page?

Not from what I understand. As soon as you create a work, it's copyrighted. Proving it in court if necessary is something else.

But we're confusing the issue by trying to compare software routines to music or books. i.e., There's only so many ways to say "Hello World!" in PHP, so nobody can be expected to change x% of the code before using it.

We've all been flabbergasted at recent software patent infringement suits - like Apple claiming all mouse routines, or someone claiming to own all .gifs. But as ridiculous as that is, those are properly registered patents, not just a modification to existing code.

In the case of abandoned mods here, no patents or copyright registration has been obtained. It's simply a rule that prevents re-use. Rules can be changed. And it's certainly in VB's best interest to have a thriving mod community, rather than one that finds itself increasingly restricted to fewer and fewer mods that can only accomplish their objective with wild code workarounds.

What's so wrong about simply changing the rule to read "If you disappear for more than six months your code will automatically become reusable"? Where is this rule codified anyway, because honestly I don't know if that isn't what it says already.