[opensource-dev] FAQ posted for Third Party Viewer Policy

[Morgaine]

Byron, your personal interpretation is at odds with Joe's words.

Plus, Joe has just confirmed what he said earlier regarding "promotion"
anyway, and it's exactly as he wrote the 1st time around, so it's your
understanding that is flawed.  Having your viewer listed in the TPV
Directory is a developer's *choice*.  Read Joe's words:


On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 1:36 AM, Joe Linden <joe at lindenlab.com> wrote:

> TPV developers may *choose* to list their viewers in the Directory for the
> value of receiving a wider awareness than they may be able to create
> themselves, or not.  *That's entirely up to the developer.*  All *viewers
> that connect* to the SL grids will need to *abide* by the TPV Policy
> regardless of their choice to list in the Directory.
>
> And, since we're only talking about conditions that apply when a TPV
> connects to Linden Lab's grid(s), we reserve the right to add, subtract, or
> otherwise modify those conditions at any point in the future.



Unlike the language in the TPV and in most of the FAQ, Joe's words here are
crystal clear, unambiguous, and make perfect sense.  The choice of listing
is a developer's choice, and Joe confirms that it's for "receiving a wider
awareness than they may be able to create themselves, or not" --- ie.
optional *promotion*, for the developer's benefit, and genuinely not
mandatory.  There is not a hint of coercion against developer's freedom to
modify and distribute in Joe's words.

[And hurrah for that, because that's one less hurdle towards compliance with
GPLv2 clause 6.]

And then, separately, Joe points out that it is *viewers* (not developers)
which connect to SL that need to comply with LL's policy requirements when
connected, which makes perfect sense.  Joe underlines that point even more
strongly: "*we're only talking about conditions that apply when a TPV
connects to Linden Lab's grid(s)*".  That's an extremely strong disclaimer
--- LL has no interest in what developers do, nor in what viewers outside of
SL do, but only in what viewers do when they are connected to SL.  It's
totally sensible.

And your interpretation, Byron, bears no relation to it whatsoever.


Morgaine.





==================================

On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 1:30 AM, Bryon Ruxton <bryon at slearth.com> wrote:

>  Morgaine, I think your statement is a misunderstanding on your part. It’s
> not “just promotion”.
>
> You don’t have a choice but to be be listed AND comply if you want to
> legitimately connect to the grid with your viewer. As originally intended by
> LL. They are not exclusive as currently implemented and described, unless
> they change that: “agree to our Policy on Third-Party Viewers and the Second
> Life Terms of Service. If you do not agree, you are ineligible for the
> Viewer Directory, and you do not have permission to access Second Life using
> a third-party viewer.“
>
> i.e. You either comply AND feature in the "viewer registry". OR ignore it,
> as you said and you’d be in breach of the TOS as such: “5.6 You will
> indemnify Linden lab from claims arising from breach of this Agreement by
> you, from your use of Second Life, from loss of Content due to your actions,
> or from alleged infringement by you”.
>
> And I don’t think opting out of the "viewer registry" should or ever will
> be an option.
>
>
> On 2/28/10 4:44 PM, "Morgaine" <morgaine.dinova at googlemail.com> wrote:
>
> Joe, thanks for clarifying that what you are doing with the Directory is
> "promotion" of Third Party Viewers.  Since it's just promotion, TPV
> developers are free to ignore it when they excel on features and don't need
> promotion, and of course you will never make promotion mandatory.
>
>
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