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sp33dy
sp33dy wrote ...

2012/1/25

Two questions

sp33dy sp33dy

2012/1/25

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Hi, I've been playing with Greenfoot over the last week to learn how it works in order to teach a group of children the concept of programming in the classroom in February. I'm very impressed with it! Given I've got an eclipse background, it feels similar, but with the nice interactive twist. What I'd like to ask is this: 1) How can I contribute in terms of producing some educational articles/videos? I.E. Do you have a call for this and how should I be doing so? I don't have a blog of such, but happy to go get something set up or should I be doning this from my Greenfoot page? I have the skills to create video captures of examples etc, but wish to know if you want these put in youtube and linked or are they uploaded through this site? 2) If I produce examples and games on this site (I've already started to do so). I'm more than happy to share code and images (not that anyone will want my images, in fact I need to borrow form others). What I'd like to know where I stand in terms of ownership/copyright. There are a few ideas I have that I'd like to create on the ipad/iphone platform, but haven't got my apple skillset sorted (yet). If I create a good game on here, do I retain ownership and the right to produce it on another platform and can I quote that my idea/code is protected to me, even though I've published the source (I don't mind people seeing how it was done). I love the idea of sharing, but would also like to protect prototypes I could provide here in Java before re-coding for another platform. Thoughts would be appreciated.. Thanks and kind regards Sp33dy
Duta Duta

2012/1/25

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I was wondering about the second point as well - obviously I'm not good enough (in my opinion) to make anything that someone else with a brain and an IDE couldn't recreate, however when I am better, I'd like protection. On the first point, as I'm improving I was beginning to think about aswell. On my part, I'm just going to produce them, put them online and see if people need them (possibly with some shameless self-promotion thrown in). Back to the point about ownership of ideas - I think that, as its uploaded here, you can see the that you uploaded it at the said date, and that - obviously - will be the earliest date that the idea was uploaded.
nccb nccb

2012/1/25

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The first question: producing Greenfoot videos sounds great. There is no particular support for that on the site, but if you host it somewhere else, we can maybe make links to it or something like that. The second question: I am not a lawyer, and the advice would differ from country to country. I believe the gist is this: your code is copyrighted so no-one can copy it (if you are concerned, it might be worth putting a licence on your code samples such as GPL). If you make your own images, they are also copyrighted (although again, if they're part of a sample, it might be worth being specific about the licence). If you come up with a snappy name, you can trademark it. But I believe that's the end of it. I don't believe game designs can be protected, so if you then wanted to port it to iOS, all you have is first-mover advantage. TL;DR: the only things you can protect are the things you plan to share. (And on a side point: if game designs could be protected, the games industry would doubtless be much worse for it. Imagine if someone had protected the first-person shooter, or the platformer.)
sp33dy sp33dy

2012/1/25

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Thanks Nccb. I'm just thinking of the pure example of someone porting the source straight over to the other x device. Which is what I intend to do, hence my question as to whether I would retain ownership. I figure from your thinking too, that this would remain the case. After posting I realised I was asking a question in which I knew the basic answer. I'll be careful with what I do and don't post up. This site might get the 'proto' typed version.
jaogfbot jaogfbot

2012/1/25

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Imagine if someone had protected the first-person shooter, or the platformer. or snake, pacman, bricks and the whole lot !!!!!!!
sp33dy sp33dy

2012/1/25

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I agree jaogfbot about and idea or concept not being protected. What I want to check is that there is nothing to stop me porting anything I submit here onto another platform. I want to make sure that if I post a 'snake' game, that I can go ahead and port to iPad without any fear of any rules on here.. *wish I hadn't asked* ;-)
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