Topic awaiting preservation: Software Licensing (Page 1 of 1)

So, the next version of Maze Wars is going to come out very soon, and it has occured to me that, being a multiplayer game, it might have security flaws. I have, of course, done everything I can to make sure that it is safe, but I want to cover my tracks.

So I figure I should add one of those "this software is provided 'as is'" license thingies to it, but I have no idea how to do that in a legally sound manner.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Are there any existing licenses that I can use? When I have one, is it sufficient to include it as a readme.txt, or is there anything else that I have to do?


 

You're basically talking about an "End User License Agreement", a EULA. You can probably find several examples on your computer or by searching for eula on google. They're mostly place in the readme.txt or a eula.txt file, and should be part of the install. You know, the "click next if you agree, or cancel to abort the installation" part.

They're pretty standard so you can probably just cut and paste the bits you like. Just don't go psycho like microsoft and give yourself admin priveleges or ask for root rights

Here's a brief excerpt from webspeakster.com

quote:

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No liability for consequential damages: Common sense dictates that any software program be thoroughly tested with non-critical data before relying on it. While every precaution was taken to produce bug free code, you use this software at your own risk. Code-it Software will not be liable for data loss, damages, loss of profits or any other kind of loss while using or mis-using this software. We pledge that Code-it Software will never make available any software that has known defects that may result in damage of data residing on the system.

This EULA is governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming where the software was created.

This EULA constitutes the entire agreement between you and Code-it Software with respect to the Licensed Product and supersedes any other communications or advertising, whether written or oral, with respect thereto. This EULA may not be modified or expanded except in writing signed by an authorized representative of Code-it Software. If any provision of this EULA is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall continue in full force and effect.

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Well, I don't have an installation procedure (except "unzip this file"), so I suppose it will suffice to put a link to the EULA with the link to the zip? ("Please read this EULA, and if you agree, download maze wars here...")

Then it's just a matter of finding a prewritten EULA which fits my needs...


 

well, yes, and there's also a place in the zip file where you can put a comments and info section built into the file, you can also put a copy of the EULA in there


Justice 4 Pat Richard

Despite all my google searching, I can't seem to find an existing EULA I can use. Of course, I don't want to just take one off an existing product, since that could be a copyright violation. All I can find online are licenses for "free software," implying I have to release the source to use them.

I'll probably just give up on this if I can't find anything soon.


 

you'll find a decent 'no-warranties-of-any-kind' in any of the bsd licences. You don't need to use the whole eula, you know...

Even something simple, such as 'the author of this software does not accept, without limitations, responsibility for any and all damages caused to the user's computer due to any faults in the software's base code or differences between the user's computer and the testing systems used in testing this software. This software code is in Beta stage and as such may contain coding faults or other bugs. The user loads this software at their own risk.'


Justice 4 Pat Richard