Intellectual Copyright

[Navarone]

I have question about intellectual copyright. I have been given a project by my client, the source code for a project they had built for them by another flash programmer. My job is to make a new widget but avoid any intellectual copyright infringements. How do you avoid intellectual copyright?

Obviously, I can't just copy the code and call it my own that would be wrong. However, suppose there is a reSize function, how do you develop a similar function that does the same thing and avoid any copyright infringements. Where does the intellectual copyright boundary start and end?

If I rename the function, rename the variables have I actually copyrighted something?

[Potemkyn]

Copyright infringement is something that, well, for intellectual property, hard to contain. I am glad you are concerned, it's not right to just take something.

I'd say you'd have to do more than just change some of the names. Though it will be hard to do anything differnt than that. You could rewrite the function with different variables as you mentioned. Learn enough about how it works and then you could change enough of it so it most of it would be yours.

Way back when we were looking at using some music for a short video, the company who 'owned' it wanted BIG bucks. A friend in the workplace said as long as we change about 20% of the piece, we'd be fine. Now, I cannot say what that is today as that's been over five years ago. I know that does not help much.

Remember, the built-in Flash functions don't belong to an individual.

HTH

Mike

[Navarone]

Thanks for the tip Mike. You mentioned built in Flash functions, can you give an example? As I looked through the code I noticed they are using Papervision3D, Tweener, and AlivePDF, all of these are open source programs so I am not sure to what extent a function using Papervision or any open source code would be considered intellectual.

[sam.uk.net]

Hi there...

not sure if I can help here...but what he means by a built in flash function is a function like:


trace();


...its parts of the actionscript language...it doesn't belong to the owner.

Hope that makes sense! :cool:

sam.uk.net

[Navarone]

Thanks, trace() makes sense to me but what about something like this:

public function TestingFloor()
{

ColorShortcuts.init();
FilterShortcuts.init();

roomRenderer = new RoomRenderer();
room = new Room(mcVisualizerFloorHolder,roomRenderer);
room.addEventListener("onLoadRoomComplete",onLoadRoomComplete);

wallbase = new Room(mcVisualizerWallbaseHolder,roomRenderer);
wallbase.addEventListener("onLoadRoomComplete",onLoadWallbaseComplete);

//room.testMC = mcTest;


btn1.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onBtn1Click);
btn2.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onBtn2Click);
btn3.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onBtn3Click);

// setup frame event listener
this.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, onFrameEnter,false,0,true);

}

[sam.uk.net]

Well for that kinda thing you'd look at the code and see what functions are made by the owner and which ones are built in.

all the

ActionScript Code:
addEventListener()



functions are built actionscript functions - the owner does not own them. If you look through the code you'll find the owner hasn't defined an addEventListener function - it must be built in.

For class initiation statements like:

ActionScript Code:
new Room();



You can tell its a function created by the owner of the code...you'll be able to find the Room class defined in an actionscript file of its own. If its not then it could belong to a free code library the owner used when creating the code. For example, PaperVision 3D.

Good luck and sorry if I'm not clear :eek:

:P

sam.uk.net

[Navarone]

No, that make sense now. Is it safe to say that anytime you run across a line of code like

new Room();


there is a AS file associated with it? Can flash tell you this, like if you hover over new Room(), is there some intellisense in flash that says there is a AS file for this function?

[sam.uk.net]

meh

I'm not sure about that one sorry. But I know flash does syntax highlight bits of code and I think it highlights built in functions and classes different to your own ones.

Give that a go...

Good luck :cool:

Also Control-Space (Apple-Space for mac) shows code hints so when your calling a built in function, it tells you the needed arguments.

Sam.uk.net

[Potemkyn]

You'll need to be VERY familiar with not only Flash, but PaperVision and anything else he might have brought in. The first lines of code of the main FLA or .AS file will contain something like:


import "flash.someClass.as"
#include "myCode.as"


Looking at the snipet of code you posted reminds me a bit of 3D (RoomRender), which could be from PaperVision.

I'm currently looking at some code from www.liquidjourney.com. There's some incredible code there and it's all actionscript (with some library items). The text for each file from the site says:

Open Source Flash/ActionScript
Modify and/or extend the code in this file...
Return any breakthroughs of brilliance
Please give credit where credit is due.

So, you may use the code, but to give credit and pass back to them a copy of your final product so they can see what marvelous things you did with their code :o I'm planning on creating some visual distractions for use as Easter Eggs in my CBTs. I already have created a few, but need more inspiration (and working code! :eek: )

Sam - thanks for explaining all that ;)

Mike