Re: License Violation

From: J P (JoeP401@email.msn.com)
Date: 01/02/00


I have the exact same type of system (t some extent)
If a player wants to buy a house itll cost 'em a few thousdand coins ect
ect...

hrumm..

it was funnier in my head maybe it shouldda stayed there.

--LordKaT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel A. Koepke" <dkoepke@CALIFORNIA.COM>
To: <CIRCLE@post.queensu.ca>
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2000 1:05 AM
Subject: Re: [CIRCLE] License Violation


> Just an update:
>
> Mudgik is owned and operated by Goldenline, Ltd. of Gibraltar.  They are
> using CircleMUD to some extent -- at least the help files, most likely the
> code as well.  They do not have the credits as required by the DikuMUD or
> CircleMUD licenses.  I could not get in contact with any sufficiently
> knowledgeable or powerful immortal online.  From their "Premium Membership
> Page",
>
>     Buy House $40.00 [ ]
>     Buy Clan Hall $45.00 [ ]
>     Buy Guild House (Must have clan hall first) $80.00 [ ]
>     Buy Special Coding to plug in to game $40 hour [ ]
>     Buy Custom Item (Special)
>
>     ITEM ______________
>     Buy Orrins $1 for 100 QTY ______________
>     NOTE: Please add $5 for exchange rate and Credit Card surcharge cost.
>
> on their web site, http://www.gibnet.gi/~rondu/.  (BTW, their web site is
> very poorly designed; almost impossible to read with Lynx, makes
> gratuituous use of Java in Netscape, has low-res graphics blown up way too
> large, etc., etc.; if anyone's looking for an example of how NOT TO design
> a professional looking and useful site, this is it.  It took me well over
> an hour to locate the contact information, which was, oddly enough, on the
> Links page.)
>
> The Mud itself is not hosted on a Goldenline, Ltd. computer system (which
> makes it more likely, to me, that they just invented Goldenline), but on
> Mercia.net.  As it turns out, Mercia Internet, Ltd. is owned by Chris Hale
> of the United Kingdom.  Thus, the Mud is physically housed in the UK.  The
> relevant whois information from Network Solutions for mercia.net is:
>
>     Mercia Internet Ltd (MERCIA2-DOM)
>     6a Bolebridge Street
>     Tamworth, B79 7PA
>     UK
>
>     Administrative Contact:
>        Hale, Chris  (CH1255)  chris@MERCIA.NET
>        01827 69166 (FAX) 018277 61566
>
> Let me reiterate that Chris is NOT (to my knowledge) directly affiliated
> with Goldenline, Ltd. or Mudgik: The Gathering, and may not even be aware
> of what Mudgik is or that it's operating illegally.
>
> From my time online, I tracked down the e-mail addresses of Sylvian and
> Mek, who are apparently the administrators of the game.  Sylvian, oddly
> enough, is from Australia (or, at least, has an e-mail box in Australia).
> He's kilbey@aljan.com.au.  Mek, who I couldn't find an actual e-mail
> address for, might read rondu@gibnet.gi, which was the only e-mail contact
> I could find on their web site.
>
> Sylvian and Mek should be, by now, already aware that I was about looking
> for them on the Mud concerning license violations.  I spoke with one of
> the immortals, Menorah, but, though nice and understanding, she was of
> little actual help.  Since I doubt they'll contact us or make a change
> without a lot of prompting, the ball (I assume) is still in our hands.  So
> my strategy:
>
>     * Contact Sylvian and Mek.  Attempt to talk to them and convince them
>       to obey with the license.  Be nice, but make it clear that this is
>       a serious matter and we will pursue it.
>
>     * Should the above fail, contact Chris Hale of Mercia Internet, Ltd.
>       and inform him that he is housing an illegal service.  I can't
>       imagine that he'd not take action, but...
>
>     * Contact Wizards of the Coast and see how much they like the blatant
>       copying of Magic: The Gathering that's going on.
>
>     * If all of the above fails, we'll need a lawyer to get a cease and
>       desist to shutdown the Mud and then go through the legal motions.
>       This is an ugly and unattractive end, and we might sooner ask for a
>       community-wide boycott of the Mud.
>
> I'll end this message with a plea for everyone to keep their cool and go
> at this with a level head.  There's no point in making asses out of
> ourselves, here.  Please, please, please restrain from sending flame mail
> to Sylvian or Mek; from bothering people on the game itself; and,
> especially, bothering Chris Hale.  That sort of thing is NOT effective and
> generally makes all parties involved agitated, frustrated, and can be
> detrimental to handling this situation in a timely and smooth manner.
>
> -dak : dkoepke@circlemud.org
>
>
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