I’ve heard that Q3map2 is free for non-commercial use.
Does this cover the GNU General Puclic License (GPL)?
Would a game that is released completely under the terms of the GPL be allowed to make use of maps compiled with Q3map2?
Or is the GPL considered commercial (even though everybody knows that famous GPLed programs like Mozilla or “Linux” can be obtained free of charge)?
IMHO it says that every product (commercial or not) released in terms of GPL should have full source code made publicely available.
If you plan to release a complete game, i don’t see a problem with using Q3Map2, but Y will certainly tell you exactly.
But i would recommend you to check also possible license conflicts of the other tools you’re using, and e.g. where your textures are from (if not done by yourself).
The problem with the GPL is that it basically allows everybody everything. That includes selling it for example.
If I would restrict my game for “non-commercial” use, it would not be free anymore, and it could not be released under the terms of the GPL.
(it’s currently using q1 bsp but q3 bsp would be better).
And look at Tenebrae 2 - The engine it GPLed, and it’s using Q3 bsp exclusively. If someone is building a game for it, he possibly could not GPL the data though the engine is GPLed. That makes no sense to me…
The “non commercial” license means that use cannot gain profits utilizing the product under this license. You can’t use Maya PLE if you want to sell models build in this program, in example. If you want to do so you must purchase the full version. The idea of “non commercial” use concerning game tools is to give the community software they may use at home (at work if they have time:)) and to protect companies interests on the market at the same time. Concerning non-game industry it’s the way the software companies could make their products more popular.
BTW: What you want to sell in GPL license?
The idea of GPL is to let the programmers use code and ideas invented by someone else as far they won’t sell it as their own code. BSD license allows that but not GPL. You can’t download the Linux kernel in example, add few “/* my code */ “ and sell it as your own product. Obviously, you can technically do it but knowing modern reverse engineering techniques it will a short trip.
FWIW, these sorts of questions should be directed at Todd Hollenshead at Id.
Generally speaking, it’s OK to use Q3Map2/GtkRadiant for Id-technology based GPL games from what I’ve seen (like Tenebrae or Dark Places), but if you plan to sell the game for $, then you’ll need a tools license from Id, which isn’t that much. Talk with Todd.
y
The Linux Kernel is not GPLed, it’s nearly public domain. But in fact, you can sell any GPLed program you want - the license explicitely allows that:
See also:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html
I do NOT want to sell our game, but anyone would be allowed to. For example when a Linux Distribution like Red Hat or Mandrake add it to their packs they are actually selling it. And GPL allows ANYONE to sell the work licensed under the terms of the GPL. The only condition: the one who receives the work has exactly the same rights. So he could sell it, too. A free license explicitely grants the rights to sell the work. Otherwise it would not be free.
There is a difference between free-as-in-beer and free-as-in-speech
You can never make $5000 from a game you give away for free. But the GPL still is a commercial license. Maybe I should talk to Todd about that.
BTW: I’ve seen a lot of Quake 3 maps that where created with q3map and q3map2 for downlod on Fileplanet.
Offering content for Download on a site that has even a single add banner on it is commercial use. But that seems to be allowed…
I’m almost sure that you don’t understand this idea but I’m absolutely sure that this is not the right place to discuss it 
[quote=“mslaf”]
I’m almost sure that you don’t understand this idea but I’m absolutely sure that this is not the right place to discuss it ;)[/quote]
Hey, I’m open for everyone’s opinion 
I know and I wasn’t sarcastic. This forum is for people who create gorgeous maps based on q3map2 compiler. It’s not for the lawyers discussing legal issues and economists debating how to earn money. I work in an advertising agency the company that lives on copyrights and I can PM you tomorrow and explain all licensing issues and differences between commercial licenses and GPL, etc. OK?
I don’t want to earn money, I just want to know wether it’s ok to release a standalone (inlcuding the data) under the terms of the GPL when the maps have been compiled with q3map2.
In a perfect world, there would be no fuss about licensing and shit, people would just create
mslaf: I’d be happy about your PM
Erm: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/COPYING
It IS GPLed, and IS NOT public domain. Some modules etc may be under other licenses…
Hey, I know that world and I saw it on my own eyes. It was a communism, but I’m not sure if it was perfect even in the theory. :-)))
Banner ads on Fileplanet ostensibly pay for bandwidth and hosting costs, and are not a direct payment for goods and services. Besides, Id’s EULA explicitly allows modifications and maps to be distributed via the internet.
Debating the legality of a shrinkwrap EULA is a topic for another day…