   Reverse engineering and stuff like that
  Let''s say there''s this game I want to get running in Linux. Let''s also say that Wine and WineX don''t work at all. So what I can do is write my own version of the game from scratch and have it use the original data files. But this is hard. So let''s say I decide to disassemble the original executable and examine the code to see how it works. Once I learn the process, and maybe figure out the formats to a few file formats, I then go and write my own code based on that process.But now have I copied the code? Have I been "tainted" somehow? Is all the code I wrote for my version of the game violating copyright laws? Have I done something illegal?   Game Development Wiki
  Umm... I doubt you''d be able to do that in the first place, considering that odds are it won''t be translated into any easily programmable language.   I Want My Island"Luck is for people without skill."- Robert (I Want My Island) ;  Reverse engineering is illegal. Flat out.By looking at the source code and writing your own modified version of it you are infringing on the copyrighted algorithms.   ---------------------------------------------------laziness is the foundation of efficiencyretrospiral.net | llamas! | megatokyo | gamedev.net | googleTiffany_Smith fanboy;quote:Original post by zer0wolf  Reverse engineering is illegal. Flat out.That''s a little broad.  Reverse engineering is still legal in many circumstances.  Not in this case, but in some.You are right in that you would be violating other laws.  Especially when using the original game''s data files.  Even if you could show you didn''t use their own algorithms, you can''t really hide the fact that you''re using their graphics.CM ;  What if the data files and graphics weren''t being distributed?And since when are algorithms copyrighted? I understand that the code implementing an algorithm is under copyright, but how would copyright laws apply to the algorithm theory itself? ;quote:Original post by zer0wolf  Reverse engineering is illegal. Flat out.In the US. It''s rather active in many other countries around the world. For example, all of the work on Samba was done outside the US, and it could never have legally been done in the US, although it is legal to distribute the result.BradDaBug: I would seriously doubt your ability to disassemble and understand how a binary works...even if you did you''d be understanding it in assembly, and it''s almost inevitably C++ source. A good alternate path might be to fire up Wine debug (''winedbg'' was the command I think), get some info on what goes wrong, and then send that info to the Wine project.P.S. This reverse engineering is almost certainly illegal in the US. ;quote:Original post by BradDaBug  What if the data files and graphics weren''t being distributed?Then how did you get them?quote:Original post by BradDaBug  And since when are algorithms copyrighted? I understand that the code implementing an algorithm is under copyright, but how would copyright laws apply to the algorithm theory itself?   You are looking at the code [in binary, but the form is irrelivent], and then copying it.  Only the copyright owner has the right to copy his works.  Its pretty straight forward.  The fact that you are modifying it to work in Linux just means you are creating a derivative work, which is also one of the copyright owner''s privleges.CM ;quote:Original post by BradDaBug   [...]And since when are algorithms copyrighted? I understand that the code implementing an algorithm is under copyright, but how would copyright laws apply to the algorithm theory itself?   Algorithms are patented, not copyright, but you aren't just using algorithms. By first looking at the source, you're creating a derivative work of sorts and derivatives are covered by copyright law, which is why fan fiction can be prevented by the holder of a copyright if so desired.   [edited by - extrarius on February 15, 2004 3:17:22 AM];  I wouldn''t worry about it. Don''t do anything stupid like redistributing any data from the original game and you should be fine. If you catch the attention of the copyright holder, they''ll let you know and you''ll have the opportunity to cease and desist.  ----Bart ;quote:Original post by Conner McCloud  quote:Original post by BradDaBug   What if the data files and graphics weren''t being distributed?Then how did you get them?Perhaps he bought a copy of the game?   [My Image Gallery (WIP)][Greatest Tetris clone evar!][Return your stolen MP3s] 