and, when you giving away all sources, keep in mind that all code should be written as additional papers to contract(i dont know term for english), other way you dont fully transfer right for particular code, and you cant be sued for re-using it. and so on, so on… there is really easy to make sure that you cant be sued, and have right to re-use the code, that is can be done without (local or global)law degree.

To avoid any legal confusion, make sure your contracts say that you will retain ownership and right to use any part of the code you want to reuse in the future. As I said, if you wrote code from scratch for your client’s project, they own it, unless your contract says you do. This is work-for-hire, and that means the results are theirs. You can probably get away without that clause, and many clients probably wouldn’t mind, but you may find yourself getting sued by an old client because you’re reusing code from games they thought they owned the source code to entirely.

I am conflicted the post is down. The author believes there is little wrong doing by ripping sprites. The law says otherwise. Personally I think it’s fine unless any money is generated.

My background; I was the last maintainer of the “Open Source Zelda” (OSZ) project in the early 2000′s. We got rather father in the C++/OpenGL based program until a letter from a lawfirm Nintendo had hired sent a cease and desist. After some communication they made it clear we could use our code (all from scratch) but the sprite we had lifted from NES emulators could not be used.

It took some time, but today, working in a AAA studio, I understand that a company with a popular IP needs to be careful it is not misused and mistakenly taken for something “official”. It takes just one hot-headed individual to be offended and then launch a lawsuit. It would not surprise me either that such an individual would go after the original IP’s owner because they have deep(er) pockets. It’s whack; C’est la vie.

My hope; the original author sees the perspective on why the post created controversy and revises his opinion on the matter of ripping “art” assets.

Cheers.

Wazoo, it can be good point, if all developers will use some kind of code, or whatever.

so far, i wonder, why you(all ppl with comment that should offend me personally) judging like this? in article there is many ways to develop right product. you can simply use top100 flash games for this year, and put % for each method. after that you will see, what i see. or you can wait for next article.

what you doing wrong here – you pointing wrong method to do good business. ok, if you doing that once, but blaming me for whole market is just awkward.

How are Flash developers ever going to be taken as serious content creators worthy of purchase?

Flash gaming is finally entering a “new age” where you can actually make enough money to stay afloat vs. working for years for pennies (if that) from ad revenue.

Make great content, make awesome games, make compelling gameplay that treats both the Flash developer and the player with nothing but the respect it deserves all around.