Ascent just got worse :p

[Le Froid]

I thought ascent was getting worse earlier, and guess what!

This applies to revisions after 2880, for both stable and trunk.

Ascent is now under the Affero General Public License, this license is essentially the same as GPL, however has a few changes in relation to source availability for any modifications made to the Ascent source code.

To read the full license, click this link -> Free Software Foundation - GNU Affero General Public License - Free Software, Free Society

Q: What is the Affero General Public License?
A: The Affero General Public License is the the GNU GPL V3 and "one additional feature", specifically covering the distribution of application programs through web services or computer networks.

Q: Why is Ascent using this license now?
A: Ascent believes that it's community of users, partners, and developers should have certain rights to it's software if they begin to interact with it. Since the interaction occurs only over a network, the GNU GPL wasn't designed for protecting their freedoms.

Q: How does the Affero Public License differ from GPL?
A: The "one additional feature" - Section 2(d) reads as follows: " If the Program as you received it is intended to interact with users through a computer network and if, in the version you received, any user interacting with the Program was given the opportunity to request transmission to that user of the Program's complete source code, you must not remove that facility from your modified version of the Program or work based on the Program, and must offer an equivalent opportunity for all users interacting with your Program through a computer network to request immediate transmission by HTTP of the complete source code of your modified version or other derivative work."

Q: How does this license protect the author?
A: In addition to other protections already in place by the GNU GPL, the new download source function is non-removable under the license. Each author who makes derivative works and runs the work publically must not remove the download source functionality. This enables the original author and users of the original source, in this case Ascent and its users, to download the source and receive the benefit of any modifications to its original work.

Q: Can the application software be running on one server and the source another?
A: Yes.

Q: How does this license treat commercial enterprise use over intranets and internal networks?
A: Simply, if run internally to a commercial company, then the company isn't required to release source code back to the world. The license requires that if a user downloads the source they have the right to make improvements and not release these modifications. GNU GPL software in general addresses this issue the same way. If an employee has access to the source and has the right to make improvements, the commercial entity could probably view this work as work for hire and owned by the company and not have to be released outside.

Q: Can a commercial entity remove the download source ability in a corporate intranet or internal networked environment?
A: No. Anyone who wants to use the software in a corporate intranet or internal network, must leave the ability to download the source but doesn't have to make modifications available if not engaged in distribution. Anyone engaged in distribution beyond their enterprise must leave the downloadable source in place and make available the source for any modifications.

Q: How do you define the enterprise networked together?
A: Employees connected through the employer's internal networks.

In a nutshell:

Any modification made to Ascent's original source code, following revision 2880, and used in a public service (ie a server that the public can access), must have its source code publically available to be downloaded by anyone who wishes to view it.

This does not cover the following:

Database modifications, this is because it's not a modification to the Ascent source.

It does cover the following:

C++ addons, which must be licensed under either AGPLv3 and GPLv3 or any compatible license.
Ascent source modification, which is covered under AGPLv3 from revision 2880 onwards.


If you have any questions about the new license, please join #ascent on irc.mmoforge.org and ask one of the developers.

Now any server owner must share their ascent source code if it was modified, which means NO ONE PERSON CAN KEEP A FUNSERVER TO THEMSELVES


Good thing ive been using mangos since last week

[Pwntzyou]

/wrists
/wrists
/wrists

Well on the bright side... time to go l3wt the servers : P

[Le Froid]

Steal wowscape's source while you can Time for me to work on my mangos

[Skorn]

So hypothetically.. what If someone were to ignore this new rule in the license. I mean.. it's not like the ascent police are going to show up at your front door and arrest you.

[Le Froid]

So hypothetically.. what If someone were to ignore this new rule in the license. I mean.. it's not like the ascent police are going to show up at your front door and arrest you.

I dunno :\

Burlex cant sue since ascent is illegal, their license is kind of void i think.
But you can shure scare people with this! xD

[Skorn]

True.. I guess that's somewhat like the Chinese gold farmers trying to report to blizzard when someone scams them for gamecards... they're trying to use the legal system when something illegal happens to them, yet they can't follow the law themselves..

It's kind of a screwed system to begin with in that case.

So.. do we really need to worry about this?

[Le Froid]

True.. I guess that's somewhat like the Chinese gold farmers trying to report to blizzard when someone scams them for gamecards... they're trying to use the legal system when something illegal happens to them, yet they can't follow the law themselves..

It's kind of a screwed system to begin with in that case.

So.. do we really need to worry about this?

IF you still use ascent

You won't get any help from pple on ascentemu.com (btw has that site been down for like 2 weeks for you too?....Damn, speaking of that as i post this mmowned goes down )

[Skorn]

Well.. the server I GM for uses ascent..

I don't use ascentemu's website too much.. but I have noticed it being down on a few occasions recently.

[Tankotron]

So basically.. since I put the Illidan patch in I have to release the
source?

[Le Froid]

So basically.. since I put the Illidan patch in I have to release the
source?

whole source code

[Skorn]

Yeah.. this whole thing just sucks.. maybe they'll change it in time.

+Rep for bringing this to our attention!

[Le Froid]

Yeah.. this whole thing just sucks.. maybe they'll change it in time.

+Rep for bringing this to our attention!

Don't worry, when my emu comes out about 10 years after wow dies we can all rejoice

[EatUrBrains]

Lol 10 years ill be long gone away from WoW...

[Le Froid]

Lol 10 years ill be long gone away from WoW...

Thats what will make it so speshul! ;p

"Now works with patch 8.5!..even though wow died a decade or two ago"

[Tankotron]

You think WoW will die one day?