Dear Copyright Violators [7.25.2006]
It has come to our attention that a number of websites are offering compiled copies of MacroQuest 2, some for a fee. While this is not, in itself, a copyright violation, most of the distributions do not follow the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL), which MacroQuest 2 is covered by. The GPL lays out terms for copying, distribution and modification of the software. First, ALL distributions of the software are required to include an unmodified copy of the GPL. Second, if any modifications are made to GPL source code, and then compiled into a distribution, the source modifications are required to be distributed as well, with the modified files clearly indicating that changes were made, and the date of the changes. Third, any commercial (e.g. for money) binary distribution must either a) include the source code (including any modifications) with the distribution or b) send a WRITTEN offer to customers/downloaders for the source code. Please feel free to notify us of any web site offering a distribution of our open source software that does not comply with these terms, and feel free to notify the web site yourself, particularly if you like the sites in question.
That being said, (psycotic) and other violators, please visit the
GNU GPL page to read about how you can become legal. If you want to avoid the legal mumbo jumbo and cut to the chase, the important stuff is also explained in the GPL FAQ (see the "Distribution of programs released under the GPL" section).
