I have a question about the below copyright notice on most jME files.
/*
* Copyright (c) 2003-2007 jMonkeyEngine
* All rights reserved.
*
* Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
* modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
* met:
*
* * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
*
* * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
* documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
*
* * Neither the name of 'jMonkeyEngine' nor the names of its contributors
* may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
* without specific prior written permission.
*
* THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
* "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
* TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
* PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
* CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
* EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
* PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
* PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
* LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
* NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
* SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
*/
What I'd like to do is copy DebugGameState, change the name, and then start tweaking it and using it as a base for my experiments and eventually games with jME. If I do this would I still have to retain the above copyright notice? It shouldn't be long before there's more code that's mine than isn't, I just like to have a solid base to start with.
It's quite simple, there are 3 conditions in the copyright notice:
* * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
*
* * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
* documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
*
* * Neither the name of 'jMonkeyEngine' nor the names of its contributors
* may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
* without specific prior written permission.
What I'd like to do is copy DebugGameState, change the name, and then start tweaking it and using it as a base for my experiments and eventually games with jME. If I do this would I still have to retain the above copyright notice? It shouldn't be long before there's more code that's mine than isn't, I just like to have a solid base to start with.
If you're going to redistribute the source for the game, you have to include the notice in the files that you modified.
If you're gong to redistribute as an executable (jar, exe) you have to include the notice somewhere like a readme or license file.
And last you can't advertise your game as being made from the jME source.
I am not sure. I think that if your application consists mostly of edited jME code then it would count as a derivative, but if you're using jME as a library/engine for making your game then it's not a derivative work.
I presume it's a standard part of the licenses - certainly is at odds with the long standing part of the wiki
jME is completely open source under the BSD license. You are free to use jME in anyway you see fit, hobby or commercial. All we ask is a little footnote, but even that is not required.