Script Ethics

Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 3:04 pm

I'm having a dilemma. I have a script that I want to use, but I also want to modify so it fits my site better. Is it cool to modify it?

I've tried to contact the original author to ask him/her but the emails bounce. I'll credit them as the original script author of course and make a small note that I modified it so people know it's not original. In case they have/find the original script and wonder why mine is different.

The script is distributed free, but I don't see the General License thing anywhere. The script was written by a German (or at least I think) .. all the documentation is in German and I don't understand it all. I knew I should have paid more attention in school Laughing

Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 3:15 pm

If the script is released under the GPL license you can modify it and even distribute it, if that is not the case you might be able to make modifications to it so that it bettter matches your site's structure but you can't distribute it if the author does not allow it.

Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 3:20 pm

I don't want to distribute it ... I just want it to fit my site better Smile

It's so close, but I want it to bring two more bits of information from the database into the script and display Smile

Maybe I should note that the moded script is not for distribution? whatcha think?

Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 3:22 pm

Then i don't see why there would be any problems.

Involved Joined: Jul 15, 2004 Posts: 252 Location: OKC, OK

If you don't distribute the modified code, then at least unde US law (as I understand it) if you have software which you got legaly, and if the software does not prohibit changes in a copyright statment you can modify it to fit your needs as long as the changes are not distributed. It is possable to copyright software so it can not be modified but it has to state that.

I don't know about Germany but in some countries if no copyright is stated then it is public domain.

Any way I wouldn't sweat it much.